The leading Scottish writer Ian Rankin, comedians Omid Djalili, Stewart Lee and Reginald D Hunter will be among a host of Fringe performers who will read the entire Chilcot Report onstage this year.
Starting at 6pm on August 8, and continuing until the 2.6m word work is read from cover to cover, the performers, writers, and also some politicians will read the Iraq inquiry report in a one-off event at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.
READ MORE: Legal fund for relatives of Iraq War dead raises £40,000 within hours
It could take two weeks to complete the reading, its organisers, Bob Slayer and Mr Djalili, think.
Rankin said: "I was on my holidays when the Chilcot Report was published, so this is my best chance to get to read at least some of it.
"It's either that or wait for the film."
Lee said: "I like the length of the Chilcot Report, but am disappointed by the variety of content" and fellow participant Arthur Smith added: "I have been really enjoying the Chilycotte report into the Battle of Agincourt so can't wait for this new one."
Iraq Out & Loud is being organised by Fringe veterans Slayer and Djalili to "bring the Fringe’s creative community and international audience together to discuss and reflect on the conflict and the UK’s role in it."
Other participants include Tommy Sheppard MP, Arthur Smith, Francesca Martinez, Sean Walsh, Jo Caulfield, Simon Munnery, Tony Law, Ed Gamble, Stephen Frost, Michael Legge, Howard Read, Andy Askins, and Andy Smart.
The organisers have launched an appeal for more readers to sign up via iraqoutloud.com.
READ MORE: Legal fund for relatives of Iraq War dead raises £40,000 within hours
Iraq Out & Loud will take place in a garden shed, beside Bob Slayer’s Blundabus on South College Street, with two readers each hour.
Tickets to be part of the small live audience in the shed go on sale on July 25, with four seats allocated per hour.
Audience members also have the opportunity to take part in the live streamed reading.
Djalili said: “Has there ever been a more current and brilliant Edinburgh Fringe Festival idea?"
Tommy Sheppard MP added that he was "delighted to do my part in drawing attention to this damning indictment of Tony Blair's government - pretty much every British military intervention he sanctioned made a bad situation worse."
Mr Slayer said: "Producing this is going to be a truly mammoth undertaking, however I know I would totally regret not doing it much more than actually doing it..."
READ MORE: Legal fund for relatives of Iraq War dead raises £40,000 within hours
A Gofundme appeal has been set up to cover out of pocket costs for staging the reading, any additional money raised will be donated to the International Rescue Committee, which provides aid to refugees and victims of armed conflict around the world.
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