News at Eleven (Back Page): "I like doing that kind of thing and

I liked the idea of someone from here doing it, somebody who's unknown," [Benjamin] Zephaniah says.

"So they came to me with this bloke Lemn Sissay. I went, 'Him again?'"

The pair have been friends since appearing together on the performance circuit in the 1980s and are now sitting together, swapping affectionate put-downs and sharing laughs in a quiet corner of the theatre foyer.

"But seriously," Zephaniah continues. "Lemn called me and he said, 'This is my story, Benjamin. I've got to do this. It's so close to my experience.'"

from BBC News: Benjamin Zephaniah's Refugee Boy steps on stage
then Yorkshire Post: Poet's own story feeds into new play

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