Rating:
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The Secret Policeman's Ball (1976)
A series of benefit shows staged initially in the United Kingdom to raise funds for the human rights organisation Amnesty International. The shows started in 1976 featuring popular British comedians but later included leading musicians and actors. The Secret Policeman's Ball shows are credited by many prominent entertainers with having galvanised them to become involved with Amnesty and other social and political causes in succeeding years.
Writing:
- John Cleese
- Peter Luff
Release Date:
Thu, Apr 01, 1976
Country:
Language: En
Runtime:
Country:
Language: En
Runtime:
John Cleese
Self
Michael Palin
Self
Terry Jones
Self
Graham Chapman
Self
Terry Gilliam
Self
Peter Cook
Self
Dudley Moore
Self
Jonathan Miller
Self
Alan Bennett
Self
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Self
Graeme Garden
Self
Bill Oddie
Self
Rowan Atkinson
Self
Billy Connolly
Self
Eleanor Bron
Self
Connie Booth
Self
Jasper Carrott
Self
Stephen Fry
Self
Hugh Laurie
Self
Dawn French
Self
Jennifer Saunders
Self
Lenny Henry
Self
Chris Langham
Self
Griff Rhys Jones
Self
John Bird
Self
John Fortune
Self
Jimmy Mulville
Self
Peter Ustinov
Self
Robbie Coltrane
Self
Clive James
Self
Ben Elton
Self
Adrian Edmondson
Self
Alexei Sayle
Self
Carol Cleveland
Self
Victoria Wood
Self
Ruby Wax
Self
Joan Armatrading
Self
Chet Atkins
Self
Kate Bush
Self
Bob Geldof
Self
Phil Collins
Self
David Gilmour
Self
Mark Knopfler
Self
Sting
Self
Pete Townshend
Self
Neil Innes
Self
Eric Clapton
Self
Jeff Beck
Self
Peter Gabriel
Self
Season 1:
A Poke in the Eye (With a Sharp Stick) is the title of the first show in what later became the iconic Secret Policeman's Ball series of benefit shows for human rights organization Amnesty International, although it pre-dated by three years the first show to bear that name. The film of the show was titled Pleasure at Her Majesty's which is sometimes mistakenly thought to be the title of the actual benefit show.
In May 1977 a second Amnesty benefit was held to build on the success of the first show and with the intent of developing momentum for a regularly scheduled benefit show.
The Secret Policeman's Ball was the third of the benefit shows staged by Amnesty International to raise funds for its research and campaign work in the human rights field.
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball was the fourth of the benefit shows staged by the British Section of Amnesty International to raise funds for its research and campaign work in the human rights field.
When the British Amnesty shows finally resumed in 1987 after a six-year hiatus, the show format was retooled in an effort to take advantage of the growing number of rock musicians supporting Amnesty.
In 1986, the US Section of Amnesty International had organised the very successful Conspiracy of Hope tour featuring leading rock musicians on an 11-day/6-concert tour of the US. This tour built upon the participation of rock musicians in the 1979 and 1981 Secret Policeman's shows.
After the criticisms of the 1987 production's disproportionate focus on music – and the financial disaster of its music-only Festival of Youth weekend concert in 1988 – Amnesty returned to the original formula that had been so successful in the 1976–81 era with a primary focus on comedy.
In early 1991, Amnesty held a comedy gala at the Duke of York's Theatre in London to commemorate its 30th anniversary.
At the end of 1991, a second event commemorating Amnesty's 30th anniversary was organised as a TV special.
In early 1997, Amnesty held a comedy gala at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. The performers were primarily Irish performers including: Barry Murphy, Brendan O'Carroll, Pauline McLynn, Dermot Morgan, Kevin McAleer, Owen O'Neill, and Kevin Gildea.
In 1998, Amnesty staged a reprise of "So You Think You're Irish" in Dublin. The performers were again primarily Irish performers including: Milo O'Shea, Barry Murphy, Pauline McLynn, Dylan Moran, Dara Ó Briain, Tommy Tiernan, Ed Byrne, Kevin McAleer, Owen O'Neill, Ian Coppinger, Eddie Bannon, Brendan Dempsey and Kevin Gildea.
In June 2001, Amnesty staged a benefit show that was video-taped as a TV special to commemorate its 40th anniversary.
The 13th show in the Amnesty series took place at the Royal Albert Hall.
In July 2008, Amnesty announced that it would present another show to be titled The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008. Like its immediate predecessor, the show was a single-night event at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Coinciding with Amnesty's 50th anniversary, the 2012 edition of The Secret Policeman's Ball took place outside of the UK for the first time under that title. It was staged on 4 March 2012 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The three-hour show featured a mix of prominent comedians from both Britain and the United States.
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