Performance poet swaps streets for stage

AN Edinburgh performance poet has gone from busking on the streets to claiming a place on the stage of one of city's most prestigious venues, in less than two months.

Andrew Newman created his own one-man fringe show when he attended the Stanza poetry Festival in St Andrews in March and set up on a street corner with a request for poem donations.

In the space of two days, not only had he collected enough poetry to fill a book with efforts from visitors, performers, and passersby, but he was also invited to perform some of the work at the festival itself.

On his return to Edinburgh, Mr Newman had the collection of poems published in book form to raise funds for the Haiti earthquake victims.

And tonight he will perform some of the work at The Usher Hall where a major fundraising concert featuring music by Elgar, Vivaldi and Gershwin is taking place.

The concert, Sherlock Meets His Violin, will raise money for Haiti. Mr Newman will be selling copies of his new book QUAKE – built from nothing, at the Usher Hall and those purchasing a copy before the concert will qualify for a complimentary ticket to the main performance.