SubscribeAmnesty at the Edinburgh Festivals
Celebrating freed speech at the world's biggest arts festival
2012 was our fifteenth year at the Edinburgh Festivals, and once again we made sure human rights had a place at the world's biggest arts festival, with loads of big names in comedy, literature and the performing arts discussing human rights and championing the rights of those who are persecuted for speaking out.
Secret Comedy Podcast
Live twice a
week from the Underbelly at this year's Edinburgh Festival Susan Calman
presents Amnesty's Secret Comedy Podcast featuring chat, sketches and
songs. Be warned that the podcast does contain some explicit content! Subscribe now on iTunes
Like free things? Like comedy? You probably want to get a seat in the audience for our podcast recordings. Reserve tickets from the Underbelly
Stand up for freedom
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| "If you just see one show at Edinburgh, see Stand Up for Freedom. It's like a taster menu with all the best bits from the top names' shows." - Ed Byrne |
Wednesday 15 August 2012 at 10pm
Venue 150, EICC
150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE
For one night only, the producers of Amnesty International's legendary Secret Policeman's Ball bring together the finest stand-ups in town for our annual comedy show. It's bound to sell out, so get your tickets early!
Hosted by Fred MacAulay and Susan Calman, the line-up that includes the multi-talented Josie Long; Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer 2011 Hannibal Buress; star of Channel 4's Stand Up For the Week Sara Pascoe; sketch trio Pappy's; David O'Doherty; newcomer Rob Beckett; cabaret duo Frisky and Mannish - plus more to be announced.
No pressure to be funny
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You can now listen to the whole show over on www.comedy.co.uk
Please be warned that the show is very explicit and only suitable for people who are over 18. The views expressed by the comedians in the show are their own and should in no way be taken to represent the views of Amnesty.
Saturday 18 August 2012 at 3pm
Venue 150, EICC
150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE
A topical comedy panel show hosted by LBC radio's James O'Brien. No captions, no competitions, just funny, informed and acerbic discussion of today's issues
Panelists Ian Rankin, Mark Thomas, Paul Provenza and Dana Alexander battle it out over the day's headlines, with musical treats from Phil Nichol and Loretta Maine. Written by - and featuring - Alistair Barrie and Nick Revell, and produced by Alex Grace.
Critics vs Comics football match
Sunday 19 August 2012
2.00pm kick-off
The Meadows (near the tennis courts), Morningside
Such a grudge match they had to get Amnesty International to referee!
The famous Critics vs Comics football match returns to the Fringe this year courtesy of Amnesty International with the comedians, captained by Mark Watson, looking to avenge last year's embarrassing 7-3 defeat at the hands (and feet) of the critics.
Comics' squad
Mark Watson captains a team that includes Joel Dommett, Romesh Ranganathan, Humphrey Ker, Paul Sweeney, Barry Castagnola, Jimeoin, Daniel Sloss, Mark Nelson, Kai Humphries, Markus Birdman, Chris Martin and James Redmond.
Critics' squad
Includes Peter Geoghegan (Fest), Julian Hall (Independent), Brian Logan (Guardian), Jay Richardson (Scotsman), Gary Flockhart (Evening News), Phil Miller (Herald) and Malcolm Jack (Scotsman).
Amnesty at the Edinburgh International Book Festival
Imprisoned Writers Series
Saturday 11 August - Sunday 26 August 2012
Every day at 5.30pm
Free! Reserve a ticket on the day from the Box Office
Peppers Theatre, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Charlotte Square
Our Imprisoned Writers Series returns to the Book Festival for another year, showcasing the work of those who have been locked up, threatened or even killed for what they have written.
Every evening, a number of renowned authors, thinkers and speakers appearing in the Edinburgh International Book festival programme will read a selection of these works.
Peter Popham: Behind the scenes with Aung San Suu Kyi
Sunday 12 August 2012 at 2.30pm
£10 (£8 concessions)
Peppers Theatre, Edinburgh Book Festival, Charlotte Square
A
year after her release from house arrest in Burma, pro-democracy
campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi has won a seat in the Burmese parliament and
been able to collect the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to her a decade ago.
Peter Popham draws on his several meetings with Suu Kyi for this timely
new biography.
Chaired by Shabnum Mustapha, Director of Amnesty International Scotland.
Ahadf Soueif: The Writer and the Egyptian Revolution
18 August 2012 at 12 noon
£10 (£8 concessions)
Studio Theatre, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Charlotte Square
Can
a people's revolution that's democratic, inclusive and peaceable
succeed? Eminent Egyptian writer Ahdaf Soueif's memoir Cairo: My City,
Our Revolution charts the uprising as it unfolded in Cairo last year.
'This book is not a record of an event that's over', she explains. Here,
she discusses a revolution that Egypt is still living through.
Chaired by Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty in the UK.
Using Fiction To Teach Human Rights
Tuesday 21 August 2012 at 5pm
RBS Corner Theatre, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Charlotte Square
Guardian Children's Book Editor Julia Eccleshare chair a panel of acclaimed author Sara Grant and multi award-winning author/illustrator Debi Gliori, secondary school Principal Teacher of English, Isobel Reid, and primary head teacher and educational advisor Carol Wood. They will offer insights, expertise and practical advice on how to use fiction - ranging from picture books to teen novels - to inspire and explore human rights issues in the primary and secondary classroom.
Standing up for Burma's forgotten prisoners
Since may last year 650 political prisoners have been released in Burma. But hundreds remain behind bars and those still imprisoned
for peaceful political activities are at risk of being forgotten.
Four years ago U Myint Aye was arrested after providing aid to survivors of Cyclone Nargis. During interrogation his colleagues were tortured in front of him until he offered a 'confession' to charges of funding terrorism. Now aged 61 he is serving life imprisonment in a cell 20 hours' drive away from his family.
U Myint Aye is a prisoner of conscience, one of many people languishing in Burma's prison cells and torture chambers after standing up for what they believe in. At this year's Edinburgh Festivals we'll be calling on you to demand his immediate and unconditional release, and justice for all of Burma's political prisoners. Together we can ensure they are not forgotten.
