Comedy Fest Questionnaire: Secret Policeman's Ball

Comedy Fest Questionnaire: Secret Policeman's Ball

1) Tell us what your show is called this year?The Secret Policeman’s Ball

2)  Why?

Because Amnesty International has been putting on comedy shows under this banner since the early 70’s and who are we to mess with that?

3) Can you give us a few hints as to what broadly your festival show is about?

It’s about good times and hilarity while at the same time raising funds and awareness for Amnesty International.  We ask all of our acts to take part in a show celebrating freedom of expression, so we leave it pretty open for the acts.

4) How much time have you spent crafting the show over the past 12 months since the end of the last festival?

Planning a comedy show is a big job, fortunately I don’t have to write the material but preparing the show and coordinating the acts is a big task, I started thinking about this years’ show almost as soon as the 2012 show was over.

5) The comedy festival is turning 21 this year – it’s a big age 21 – what you’re your memories of being 21? Or if you’re not old enough yet, you lucky person, what are your hopes for being 21?

Amnesty turned 21 in 1982, in that year we launched an appeal for a universal amnesty for all prisoners of conscience and collected 1 million signatures, we also reaffirmed our opposition to inhumane treatment of those persecuted because of their sexuality. Most disturbingly, back in 1982 the people of Syria were demanding freedom and the regime  under Bashir Al-Assad’s father,  was suppressing them. They endured a 27 day military assault on Hama and it’s estimated that 250,000 people may have died.

6) The Comedy festival is one big party and catch up for a month - is there anyone you’re looking forward to seeing over here either socially or on stage?

We’re looking forward to seeing all of the acts who are part of our show and hopefully meeting many more who’d like to take part in the future.

7) What’s the comedy scene like at the moment who do you rate and why?

I’m not really in a position to comment on the state of the comedy scene, there are certainly plenty of comedians in NZ and a lot of them are supportive of us so we love everyone who has been, is, or wants to be involved in our show.

8)  What’s the best piece of audience interaction you’ve had?

Our triumphs don’t really happen on stage but one of the best pieces of audience interaction for us came when our supporters took action to stop the execution of Troy Davis in 2011, so many New Zealanders went online to take action that the Georgia Parole Board’s IT team blocked the petition.

9) What’s the most memorable part of performing for you within the last 12 months?

I’m not a performer but I think we performed well in acting on behalf of Malala, the young Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban for her education & women’s rights activism.  To see Malala recover and then be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize has been pretty awesome.

10) When we say New Zealand International Comedy Festival to you, what’s the first thing you think of?

The Secret Policeman’s Ball

11) How would you persuade people to come and see your show?
I’d tell them it’s the best value showcase of the festival, not just a great line-up of NZ and International acts but the Secret Policeman’s Ball is comedy legend and with all proceeds going to a great cause how could anyone refuse!