Top comics stage UK-wide benefits to aid refugees

Top comedians including Sarah Millican, Jason Manford, Joe Lycett and Ed Byrne are to take part in a nationwide series of benefit gigs to aid refugees.

Five Stand Up 4 Refugees shows are to be held across England following the success of a one-off gig at London’s Conway Hall, headlined by Frankie Boyle.

The first show at The Lowry, Salford on March 24 will feature Millican and Manford alongside Jack Carroll, Mrs Barbara Nice, Isma Almas, and Katie Mulgrew as MC.

The rest are:

May 31: Birmingham Rep with Joe Lycett, Nish Kumar, Mrs Barbara Nice, Robin Ince, Jo Enright and MC Tiernan Douieb.

June 12: Bristol Tobacco Factory with Gary Delaney

June 20: Hertford Theatre with Ed Byrne and MC  Tiernan Douieb

June 21: Brighton Dome with Shappi Khorsandi, Mark Steel, MC Jen Brister 

Other acts will be added to these bills later, and all the money from ticket sales will go to Help Refugees, which distributes aid across more than 20 camps in Europe and the Middle East. Their winter fundraising appeal recently raised nearly £1 million.

Tiernan Douieb, who organised the shows alongside fellow comedian Jen Brister, said: ‘While Brexit and Trump continue to dominate the headlines, an unprecedented and increasingly under-reported refugee crisis in Europe and the Middle East is getting worse every day, with millions of the world's most vulnerable people struggling in inhumane living conditions and legal limbo.

‘Help Refugees are one of the organisations leading the fight to improve these people's lives so we thought we'd club together to show our support for them, raise awareness, raise some funds and hopefully give people around the country a sorely needed laugh.’

"Laughter is universal and  brings people together even in dark times. No doubt many of acts will tackle the crisis in their material. But just by being part of the shows they are showing their support for this global humanitarian issue and helping audiences support it by enjoying themselves instead of screaming at the news.’

Published: 9 Feb 2017