Comedians play benefit gigs for Paris victims

Comedians are taking part a series of benefit gigs following the terrorist murders in Paris.

Proceeds from the shows at The Stand clubs will be split between Muslim groups and the families of the 17 victims of the attacks that centred on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket.

Club managing director Tommy Sheppard said the shows were a defiant response to those who use violence to try to curtail free speech and stir up hatred towards Muslims.

‘Comedians, satirists and journalists know that courting controversy can often come with the territory,’ he said. ‘While not everyone may agree on what is ripe for parody and fun-poking, what we can agree on is that no one deserves to die for exercising their freedom of speech.

‘We use humour to poke fun at authority and cope with the horrors of living. It is part of a democracy. We are proud to stand with satirists everywhere and we will make sure that laughter will not be silenced.’

The Je Suis Charlie benefits will take place in Glasgow, Newcastle and Edinburgh on successive nights, starting on January 26.

Comics taking part include Dylan Moran, Jo Caulfield, Susan Calman, Gavin Webster, Des Clarke and Fred MacAulay.

The line-ups so far are: Glasgow, Jan 26: Mark Nelson, Keir McAllister, Susan Calman, Fred MacAulay, Des Clarke and JoJo Sutherland. Newcastle Jan 27: Martin ‘Bigpig’ Mor, Carl Hutchinson and Gavin Webster. Edinburgh Jan 28: Dylan Moran, Susan Morrison and Jo Caulfield.

• What has the Charlie Hebdo atrocity taught me? I'm not quite sure, writes Dave Cohen.

Published: 13 Jan 2015