Versed among equals
Comics publish poetry book
More than 30 comics, including Arthur Smith, Russell Brand, Stewart Lee and Harry Hill, have contributed poems to a new anthology in aid of a homeless charity.
Smith will launch the book, That Which Is Not Said, with his only gig at the Edinburgh Festival on Sunday.
None of the comics were paid for their poems, so all profits from the £7 book will go to homeless charity Crisis. But only 1,000 copies have been printed.
The 94-page anthology was compiled by 24-year-old promoter Simon Pearce, who runs a Sunday night gig at Up The Creek in Greenwich, South London.
He said: ‘I decided to do this with six weeks to go until the start of the Fringe and thus began a relentless month of pester and nag.
‘The comics responded very well to the idea but most were unsure whether to give me something silly and trite or pour their heart onto the page.
‘I offered to preference whatsoever so what we’re left with is a hilarious but tender tome; the perfect joke book.’
Others who contributed include Simon Day, Andrew Maxwell, Adam Buxton and Boothby Graffoe.
Click here to read extracts from the book submitted by Simon Munnery, Harry Hill, Tim Vine and Arthur Smith.
The book is available from the Pleasance Dome in Edinburgh, and online here.
Published: 8 Aug 2006
