| “Highlights
of the spoken word scene. Created for a new breed of British
poetry.”
The Sunday Times
Aisle16
is Luke Wright, Ross Sutherland, Joel Stickley and Chris Hicks.
From their humble beginnings in 2000, running a poetry club
above a communist theme pub, Aisle16 have risen to become
one of the most sought after poetry acts in the UK.
“Poetry has come of age.”
The Guardian
Familiar headliners at the UK’s major spoken-word events
(Apples & Snakes, Cheltenham Festival, Manchester Poetry
Festival), Aisle16 are equally renowned for their appearances
in top comedy clubs, and for captivating crowds at the Glastonbury
Festival. Their hard-edged, mutant hybrid style has also given
rise to mainstream TV work and has earned the boys a large
fanbase, including Kevin Spacey and Ralph Steadman.
“They do with words what I try and do with art. Some
of my favourite poets.”
Ralph Steadman
In 2004 Aisle16 raised the bar for spoken word in the UK,
taking their mock-motivational multimedia extravaganza, Powerpoint,
to the Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh.
“Using a PowerPoint slide show, these young bucks take
it in turns to tear strips off the mores of modern corporations,
with biting, sometimes surreal, quips all masquerading as
instructions at a pyramid sales seminar. It is razorsharp
stuff, both visually and aurally arresting, and not lacking
of moments of pure genius ... Don’t miss this –
if you think you can take the pace – and mark Aisle16
out as ones to watch.”
Metro
Powerpoint was a critical and commercial success, receiving
a clutch of four and five reviews and outselling all the other
poetry shows at the Fringe and the other shows in its venue
(Pleasance Joker Dome).
“Young blades in open revolt against consumerism and
celebrity. I loved it.”
The Scotsman
In 2005 Powerpoint Version 2.0 toured the UK before taking
up a three-week residency at London’s Old Red Lion Theatre
where it was awarded CRITICS’ CHOICE in Time Out.
“Compelling viewing for all inside and outside the corporate
equation.”
Time Out
Aisle16 return to Edinburgh in 2005 with a new show, Poetry
Boyband, which transfered to London in November. Poetry Boyband
was their most successful show to date playing to sell out
audiences in Edinburgh and London before being made on of
Time Out's CRITICS' CHOICE of the year 2005.
"Very funny. All of it is slickly delivered and tautly
choreographed."
The Evening Standard
After
a successful 20 date tour of Poetry Boyband Aisle16 were asked
by Candida Lycett Green to headline John Betjeman's centenary
party in Cornwall in August 2006. The boys put together an
entirely new show entitled Aisle16's Services To Poetry,
which saw them following in JB's footsteps and toruing
England looking for poetic moments in mundane things. The
crucial difference was they only went to motorway service
stations. The show is currently being developed and is likely
to go into a London theatre in 2007.
“It
has a purity and power you never expect until it is there
in front of you.”
Johann Hari, The Evening Standard
Aisle16’s first collection, Live From The Hellfire Club
was published in March, (Egg Box / ISBN: 0-9543920-3-5), with
forewords by the Independent’s Poet-in-Residence Martin
Newell and punk legend John Cooper Clarke.
“I refuse to perform with them anymore because they
make me look like a cunt.”
John Cooper Clarke
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