news blogUK: The Secret Policeman's Ball is back
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Posted: 18 August 2006 Amnesty International UK today announced the return of a legend, the best-loved name in comedy, The Secret Policeman's Ball. The comedy event will take place for one night only at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 14 October 2006, and will be broadcast on Channel 4 television soon after. Re-invented and re-booted for the twenty-first century, The Secret Policeman's Ball - which launches Amnesty International's 'Protect The Human Week' - will feature an unprecedented line-up of comedy and music talent standing up for humanity and human rights. As well as the traditional mix of stand-up and sketch comedy, Amnesty International will be adding many new ingredients, including animations, podcasts and viral films. Public support for Amnesty increased by 700% after the first three shows, the profile of human rights went through the roof, and once again The Secret Policeman's Ball has been called on to take its place in the fight for global justice. Amnesty International UK Secret Policeman's Ball Producer Lisle Turner said: 'People have been pushing us to do another Ball for many years and we always declined. We're doing it now because the world needs a poke in the eye, it needs laughter and frankly, it needs more Balls. 'Sometimes what the world needs to see global human rights abuses, is a hard hitting report. But sometimes a side-splitting joke can work just as well. 'It's never been more important to stand up for humanity and human rights - and as it was a generation ago, the Ball is our secret weapon to rally the troops. 'After years of heroic service, the Ball took a well-earned rest. But now its back - bigger, better and ballsier than ever before.' The original shows contained many seminal showbiz moments: some of Monty Python's finest live performances, John Cleese and Peter Cook's first on-stage collaboration, Terry Jones in Beyond The Fringe sketches, Sting's first solo performance, and Rowan Atkinson's first try-out with a voice now globally recognised as that of Mr Bean. With music from Bob Geldof, Lou Reed, Kate Bush, Duran Duran (and with Bono in the audience), The Ball was the first event of its kind - demonstrating the power of artists and entertainment to inspire action, paving the way for Live Aid and Comic Relief. Former Python member and Ball performer Michael Palin said: 'As a veteran of the first Amnesty shows I wish great success to the Secret Policeman's Ball. By mixing a good cause and a line-up of performers you'd never see together anywhere else, the shows had a mad exuberance. Anything could happen and usually did. There simply is nothing like an Amnesty comedy show.' Amnesty International, which now has more than 260,000 members and supporters in the UK and nearly two million worldwide, campaigns to abolish the death penalty and torture, for the release of all prisoners of conscience, to control the arms trade and to stop violence against women. Note to editors: Media contacts: Amnesty International UK Media Unit: |
