Our Story - Poetry Can F**k Up Your Finances 2016

Poetry Can F**k Up Your Finances

Conceived and compiled by Dave Wybrow and Daisy Campbell Poetry Can F*ck Up… comprised three events based around the work of Heathcote Williams. These were created in collaboration with Roy Hutchins, who, along with the loose-knit collective, The Poetry Army, had previously toured the nation with Poetry Can F*ck Off—guerrilla-style performances of Williams’ powerful work.

The Cockpit staged Poetry Can F*ck Up The Truth (29th May 2016), Poetry f*cks Over Migrants: WORLD ON THE MOVE (4th December 2016) and Poetry Can F*ck Up Your Finances (23rd October 2016). The 23rd October date was significant as, for nearly a decade, it had been Revd Jonathan’s annual ‘money burning day’.

Although Heathcote Williams was too unwell to attend in person (he passed away on 1st July 2017), he was fully supportive of the unique mix of poetry and money burning. He even ordered several copies of Burning Issue Special Edition magazine, released for the occasion, and sent a handwritten note to Revd Jonathan, expressing his excitement about such a radical publication. That note is now among Revd Jonathan’s most cherished possessions.

Alongside Heathcote Williams poetry, the script also drew on Hakim Bey’s TAZ: The Temporary Autonomous Zones and the first edition of Revd Jonathan’s The Money Burner’s Manual. There was also music and performance. As Melusine, Jacqueline Hague ejaculated coins from between her twin tails to shower the audience in gold. Revd Jonathan led the Ritual, and the immolation of £283 was recorded in the Record of Burn. Although, as is often the case, the actual immolation figure was likely higher.