Aisle16 R Kool!

Since starting as a comedy night above a Communist pub in London in 2000, the Aisle16 brand has become synonymous with superior performance poetry in Edinburgh, Glastonbury and beyond. As its latest incarnation comes to Edinburgh with Aisle16 R Kool!  featuring Tim Clare, John Osborne, Luke Wright, Ross Sutherland and Joe Dunthorne, the only thing that isn’t cool about this show is the unfortunate title.

The show’s premise is simple: which one of the young poets on stage is the coolest? As the audience try to decide, Clare, Osborne, Wright and co perform a handful of their own poems, on different subjects, in different styles showcasing their collective talent for comedy, improvisation and of course, timing.

While the subjects vary dramatically, from disappointing surprise birthday parties to the realities of being a "weekday Dad", to an inspired rap about powerful women—Maggie Thatcher and Joan of Arc both getting a look in—he evening manages to maintain an air of energy and unity.

A fitting tribute to the power of the spoken word, Aisle16 R Kool!  is a powerful, enjoyable and intellectually stimulating literary journey through time, space and the most powerful performance tool of all: imagination. It's very funny, completely different to any other type of performance comedy and a reminder of how easy it can be to become immersed in the English language.