On Tender Fingers in a Clenched Fist

On Tender Fingers In a clenched Fist

“lemn Sissay has success written on his forehead." - The Guardian

On Rebel Without Applause

"He’s a lyrical genius that’s causing a storm across the country." - The Voice "His poems are the songs of the street, declamatory, imaginative, hard-hitting: about mothers, supermarkets, dreams of Africa, getting picked up by police for being black...mocking the limitations of the mocker." Ruth Padel - Independent on Sunday "Floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee." - The South African Weekly Guardian

On Morning Breaks in the elevator

"An extremely accomplished poet … he moves with consummate skill from loud protest through to quiet reflection … hyperaccurate." - The Caribbean Times "Fierce, funny, serious, satirical, streetwise and tender." - The Big Issue His book celebrates the medium which sissay is not only at ease, but in love – The Guardian Lemn Sissay is something of a literary institution – The Big Issue His name is magic. His poems are songs of the street – The Independent on Sunday

On The Fire People

"Stimulating, sublime, accessible funny…clued up, sensitive, politically motivated without being preachy, informed, ironic, loving and sensual."- Pride "The collection forms a milestone of great significance."- The Times "a strong spine of fresh talent" - Dazed & Confused “Reading this made me fonder of my generation” - Pride

On The Emperors Watchmaker

“Hugely enjoyable, inventive and funny and touching” - The Guardian “A remarkable debut” - The Financial Times On his play Something Dark

A triumph – The Scotsman

We are aware of being in the grip of a master of the spoken word and a highly charismatic performer - Metro North

Riveting style The Stage

A big hearted pleasure Time Out (critics choice)

It would be impossible to come away from this show unmoved and uninspired – Metro London

On Jazz

The finale went to the heart of Jazz – sissay chanting “we are the fire people” while David Murray blazed beside him and the band generated the power of an erupting volcano. That moment together with earlier ones like trumpeter Rasul Siddik getting seriously emotional above the Harris led band with sissay shadow boxing behind him; Ragin and alto player James Spaulding following simultaneously; together with the constant joy provided by the eduliant Fred Hopkins anchoring it all on bass – these were not only the high points of this concert but surely high points of Birmingham Jazzs contribution to the cultural life of the city. If I were a list maker this would be in my top five concerts of all time. - The Birmingham Post.

A born Performer – Big Issue

Lemn Sissay is the Brendhan Behan of poetry. – Terry Christian