Amnesty Freedom of Expression Award 2016 shortlist announced
Angel by Henry Naylor
Counting Sheep
Dear Home Office
Expensive Shit
Glasgow Girls
The Interference
The Other
Amnesty has chosen seven outstanding Edinburgh Festival Fringe productions for the shortlist of its 2016 Freedom of Expression Award in the 15th year of the Award’s history.
The Award, given annually to an outstanding Fringe production with a strong human rights message, celebrates excellence in human rights related theatre in Edinburgh. The winner will be announced by Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen at a ceremony in the City Arts Centre in Edinburgh on 25 August 2016.
Naomi McAuliffe, Amnesty International Scotland Programme Director said:
“During the judging of this year’s Freedom of Expression Award we have participated in a revolution; been moved by the inspirational story of schoolgirls who became human rights campaigners; heard the frustrating experiences of asylum seekers, and been truly inspired by the quality of the shows we have seen. This has been a fantastic year for theatre with a human rights theme.”
Tim Bano, Theatre Critic from FEST, said:
“The diversity of both form and human rights messages among this year's Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award shortlist is very exciting.
“More importantly, the themes range widely across religious extremism and gender equality, race and identity, campus rape, national revolution and the refugee crisis. It's thought-provoking, heartening stuff.”
The shortlisted productions are:
Angel by Henry Naylor – Gilded Balloon Teviot
Counting Sheep – Summerhall @ The King’s Hall
Dear Home Office – Underbelly Med Quad
Expensive Shit – Traverse Theatre
Glasgow Girls – Assembly Hall
The Interference – C Venues 34
The Other – Institut Français d'Ecosse
Amnesty’s involvement with the world’s largest arts festival is based on the celebration of freedom of expression and campaigning for the rights of people whose free speech is denied.
Entries for the Freedom of Expression Award are visited by Amnesty International reviewers and a panel of professional theatre critics.
The judging panel comprises: Joyce McMillan of the Scotsman, Neil Cooper of the Herald, Tim Bano of FEST Magazine, Stephanie Knight; an independent artist-researcher and Naomi McAuliffe, Amnesty International Scotland, Programme Director.