Andrew Dipper

Exclusive: Simon Donald announces book tour

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As he re-releases his autobiography Him Off The Viz.

Viz co-creator Simon Donald has announced a book tour – as he prepares to re-release his autobiography.

Donald made history, alongside his brother and a school friend, by turning their playground antics into the notorious sales phenomenon of the late 20th century.

Their magazine and its story is celebrated in Donald’s autobiography, Him Off the Viz, which is due for a re-launch in April, expanded, revised and updated.

To celebrate the book’s re-release through independent comedy publishers Go Faster Stripe, the Geordie comedian is taking himself around a number of intimate venues to record live readings from his book.

The shows will be edited together to form part of the audiobook of his autobiography, to be released later in the year.

At two of these shows the audiences will also get a taste of Donald’s latest stand-up project, Barry Twyford Isn’t Meant, in which his most popular character, the hapless market researcher Barry, spends the whole show desperately trying to find ways to entertain the crowd.

In his inimitable floundering style, Barry has attempted to gain the venue’s permission to perform an exit survey of the audience, but instead has accidently booked himself to perform an hour of comedy.

The tour dates so far are:

19 April: Stoke Con Trent, Stoke – book officially launched at artists’ convention with author signing event.
22 April: Lit and Phil Society, Newcastle – author event and reading.
9 May: Westgarth Social Club, Middlesborough – author event and reading.
10 May: Blakes Coffee Shop, Newcastle – reading and short Barry Twyford set.
11 May: Newcastle City Library – author event and reading.
24 May: The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe – reading followed by Barry Twyford Isn’t Meant.

For further information, and tickets, see individual venues.