Preview: Stand Up for Refugees, Tobacco Factory Theatres

The Comedy Box-hosted Stand Up for Refugees (June 12) aims at raising money for, and awareness of this huge humanitarian crisis. Comic and co-curator Tiernan Douieb tells us more

Myself and comedian Jen Brister wanted to do something to aid the biggest humanitarian crisis since World War Two. Jen had been over to the Calais jungle and worked with the charity Help Refugees, and I’d met them through another fundraiser I’d been part of. We both felt that the work they are doing was amazing and necessary.

As comedians, the one thing we can do is raise funds. Help Refugees can get aid where it’s needed and a lot of other acts we know also feel it’s an important cause and wanted to help.

We did a show in London last November with Frankie Boyle, Sarah Pascoe, Kerry Godliman, Doc Brown, Tez Ilyas, Jen and myself. Then this year we’ve had shows at the Salford Lowry (featuring Sarah Millican, Jason Manford and others) which sold out and raised £8,000, plus Birmingham Rep (myself, Joe Lycett, Nish Kumar, Al Murray and others). On June 12 we come to Bristol, before gigs in Hertford and Brighton.

Comic and Stand Up for Refugees co-curator Tiernan Douieb

We wanted to do shows in all the larger UK cities, and these were the ones we managed to work out with venues and acts in short notice. Frankie Boyle very kindly turned one of his shows at the Glasgow King’s Theatre into a fundraiser, and we’re hoping to do more later in the year if we can.

The Bristol lineup is fantastic. One-liner hero and Mock The Week regular Gary Delaney, Host of R4’s Newsjack and fellow Mock the Week regular Angela Barnes (pictured top), the multi-award-winning Josie Long, the hilarious Kerry Godliman who many will know from C4’s Derek with Ricky Gervais, but who also has spots on Live At The Apollo; musical/political comedians Johnny and the Baptists, the brilliantly honest and sharply observational Suzi Ruffell, the fantastically funny, thoughtful and superbly blunt Jen Brister and all hosted by probably the UK’s best compere, your own Mark Olver.

Johnny and the Baptists. Pic: Anna Soderblom

Will it be topical? The comedians can do any material they like, though some will likely comment on the refugee crisis and current news and politics as they usually do anyway. We thought it was most important to make sure that the audience had a good laugh while supporting a very important cause.

Co-curator Jen Brister

We want these shows to raise both funds and awareness. There are a lot of misconceptions about refugees and the current crisis, with many confusing it with issues such as EU immigration – which is not, and has never been the same thing. The fact is, millions of people have become displaced due to unstable governments, civil wars, famine and climate change. These people just want to survive and live normal lives, and any of us would want the same.

Holding a series of comedy gigs where people can come along, enjoy their evening and donate money towards shelter, provisions and care for those in need across Europe, will also hopefully help people to realise how easy – and how important – it is to help.

Stand Up for Refugees June 12, Tobacco Factory Theatres. For more info and to book tickets, visit www.thecomedybox.co.uk