It's The Arts: With Mark Ravenhill

What were you doing Mummy in the decade before the world hit the biggest economic crisis in almost a century? 

Well, darling, I was learning not to talk and think like a grungy, angry artist but think and act more like New Labour cultural commissars and their friends in the banking sector. 

Mummy, would they be the ones who got us in to the whole mess that I’m going to be dealing with for my whole life time? 

Well, now you put it like that darling, yes I suppose they rather were. 

And you spent a decade trying to be more like them, Mummy? 

Well yes I rather did. 

And wasn’t that a rather stupid thing to do?

Well, not at the time, darling, no; because you see I thought it would get me some funding and then I could build a career path for myself in the creative industries. 

And did that work out for you Mummy? 

Shut up and go a nick a can of beans for your tea.

From Mark's great Inaugural Opening Address Of The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Full text on Postcards From The Gods - who points out some media reports of this indicate they weren't actually listening to what he actually said.
Surprise!