#StandUpForSatire: Comedians come together in support of Index

Union Chapel, Islington (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Stand Up For Satire, hosted at the Union Chapel in Islington on Tuesday 4 July, was a night of top comedy in support of Index on Censorship, hosted by Australian stand-up Brendon Burns. The stellar line-up featured comedians Al Murray, Tim Key, Dane Baptiste, Kerry Godliman, Deborah Frances-White, Felicity Ward and Robin Ince, plus a special reading from George Orwell’s Animal Farm by actor and Index patron Simon Callow.

Among the topics poked fun at were North London conformists, the British, the middle class, Brexit, hipsters and your racist nan.

For this special podcast below, Index spoke with Burns, Baptiste, Ince and Murray backstage about the importance of satire and why their craft is uniquely powerful.

 

 

Union Chapel, Islington. (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Union Chapel, Islington. (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian and host Brendon Burns (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian and host Brendon Burns (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Union Chapel, Islington (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Tim Key (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Tim Key (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Felicity Ward (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Felicity Ward (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Felicity Ward (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Actor Simon Callow (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Dane Baptiste (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Union Chapel, Islington (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Deborah Frances-White (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Deborah Frances-White (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Kerry Godliman (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Kerry Godliman (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Union Chapel, Islington (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Robin Ince (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Al Murray (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Al Murray (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

Comedian Al Murray (Photo: Elina Kansikas for Index on Censorship)

 

Robin Ince backs libel campaign

Comedian Robin Ince appeared on the Daily Politics on BBC2 at 12pm today condeming libel law in the UK and backing Index on Censorship and English Pen’s campaign on libel reform.

To watch the video click here.

To sign the petition on libel reform and for more information on the campaign click here.