Madam Miaow with Park Bench genii Stephen and Charlotte
Noel not reading his short story
South London victoryLast night saw the North versus South slam-dunk poetry playoff between Norf and Sarf London at the ingenious Park Bench installation in an empty shop in Camden Town.
Inspired by Anthony Gormley's Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square which is proving wrist-slittingly boring (surely we can do better that this, people!), Camden's Park Bench is an inspiring chance to get up and do something. Anything! Express yourself and make it amusing. Or not. Hey, it's Art.
Madam Miaow held up North London's end in her mistressful hands by reading her epic Wreath Lecture nice and early when she was fresh as a daisy, and later reciting a slurry Anna May Wong Must Die! following Becks, Dunkerton's Perry, and K cider (8.5%!!!).
South London deserved their easy win by producing several spoken word talents for the occasion. Award-winning Clarissa Pabi (18) and Raphael Blake excelled in their delivery and sharp poetry. I'll be remembering Clarissa's eensy-weensy spiders that, being American, were obese and not so fleet-footed when climbing drains, for a long time to come.
There was also a cheeky put-down of all things Camden, based on John Cooper-Clarke's Chicken Town, by another of their compadres, Anthony Shuster, who was hilarious.
So much talent in such a tiny space.
Only two more days to go. it comes down tomorrow so hurry-up!
C22, 22 Chalk Farm Road opposite the Stables Market. More pix and info here
Thanks to Stephen and Charlotte. More like this, please.
Madam Miaow and Charles Shaar Murray
