New comedy names revealed for Amnesty Fringe shows
Amnesty International today revealed two more great comedy names, Richard Herring and Janey Godley, who will be performing at its Stand Up For Freedom show at the Assembly Hall on 12 August.
Richard Herring is a festival favourite, whose 2008 Fringe show ‘The Headmaster’s Son’ received 5-star reviews. He is also well-known for his radio and TV work, including Fist of Fun and Lee and Herring.
Scottish comedienne Janey Godley is a regular 5-star performer at the Edinburgh Fringe, winning the 2008 Fringe Report Award as 'Best Performer' and two 2008 Nivea Funny Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights Fringe Awards - as 'Best Stand-Up' and, overall, for 'Best Show' as "one of the most prolific and extraordinary stand-up comedians working in the UK".
Building on the success of last year’s Edinburgh comedy shows and the massive Secret Policeman’s Ball from the Royal Albert Hall in 2008, Amnesty’s Stand Up For Freedom returns to the Assembly Rooms at midnight on 12 and 19 August. Other performers include Simon Amstell, Andrew Maxwell, Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal from ‘Flight of the Conchords’, Phil Nichol, Sarah Millican, John Bishop, Rob Rouse, Colin & Fergus and more top comedy names still to be announced.
Amnesty International Scotland Director John Watson said:
“The Stand Up For Freedom shows have become something of a Fringe institution and the atmosphere in a packed Assembly Hall at midnight is always fantastic.
“Richard and Janey join a really impressive line-up this year - and I know we’ve got another couple of big names performing on the night who haven’t even been announced yet.
“Freedom of expression – being able to speak your mind – is at the heart of what all comedians do and I think that’s why performers have always been keen to help Amnesty in our work to protect free speech and other basic human rights.”
Stand Up For Freedom is just one part of a packed Edinburgh programme from Amnesty International this year, underlining its long-term work with festival-goers to protect the right to freedom of expression around the world.
This year Amnesty reinforces its Freedom of Expression message at the Festival by campaigning for Dr Binayak Sen, an Indian doctor facing trial on trumped-up charges that Amnesty believes are a response to his activism, speaking out on behalf of the poor and marginalised. If convicted he could face a life term in jail. Amnesty is asking people to fill in one of its action cards or go to www.amnesty.org.uk/binayak-sen to send an appeal to the Indian authorities.
Activists will be out on Edinburgh’s streets this year with Amnesty’s Protect the Human placards, asking festival-goers to take their own stand for human rights by posing for a photo brandishing an Amnesty banner. All the photos will be displayed on Amnesty’s Flickr stream.
Find out more about at www.amnesty.org.uk/edinburghfestivals br />