Fringe stars read Chilcot Report’s damning verdict
IT IS THE long-awaited report into Tony Blair’s misadventures in Iraq that is five times the size of War and Peace.
But after seven long years and 2.6 million words, Sir John Chilcot’s crushing verdict on the British incursion into Iraq was finally published earlier this month.
It made grim reading for the former Labour ministers who took the country to war over unproven threats from the late dictator Saddam Hussein.
Now it will make even grimmer reading for a clutch of feted writers, comedians and Fringe performers who will read the entire Chilcot Report onstage this year.
Among the invited performers are Scottish writer Ian Rankin, comedians Omid Djalili, Stewart Lee and Reginald D Hunter.
Starting at 6pm on August 8, the report will be read from cover to cover in a one-off event at the Edinburgh Fringe.
It is thought the ordeal could last two weeks.
Mr Rankin said: “I was on my holidays when the Chilcot Report was published, so this is my best chance to get to read at least some of it. It’s either that or wait for the film.”
Dubbed Iraq Out & Loud, the event is being organised by Fringe veterans Bob Slayer and Djalili to “bring the Fringe’s creative community and international audience together to discuss and reflect on the conflict and the UK’s role in it”.
Other participants are set to include Tommy Sheppard MP, Arthur Smith, Francesca Martinez, Sean Walsh, Jo Caulfield, Simon Munnery, Tony Law, Ed Gamble, Stephen Frost, Michael Legge, Howard Read, Andy Askins, and Andy Smart.
The organisers have also launched an appeal to attract more readers at iraqoutloud. com
Iraq Out & Loud will take place in a garden shed, beside Bob Slayer’s Blundabus on South College Street, with two readers each hour. Tickets to be part of the small live audience in the shed go on sale on July 25, with four seats allocated per hour. Audience members also have the opportunity to take part in the live streamed reading. Mr Djalili said: “Has there ever been a more current and brilliant Edinburgh Fringe Festival idea?”