No Pressure to be Funny

On Saturday, a number of the Fringe’s best loved faces will take centre stage to discuss the day’s hot topics. But No Pressure to be Funny isn’t your average panel show where comedians fight for the limelight. The event, a joint venture between Amnesty International and its creators Nick Revell and Alistair Barrie, seeks to “cover the issues in a little bit more depth, rather than using them to move as quickly as possible to a dick joke,” Revell explains. “That’s where the name came from,” adds Barrie, “as with a lot of these panel show formats, there’s a competitive pressure to get a laugh as soon as possible.”

Hosted by LBC presenter James O’Brien, the panel will consist of novelist Ian Rankin alongside comedians Dana Alexander and Mark Thomas. Some light musical entertainment will also be coming courtesy of Fringe favourites Phil Nichol and Loretta Maine, the queen of angst who describes her involvement as a bid to become “more like Bono.”

Revell and Barrie first developed the idea in late 2010, frustrated by a lack panel shows that combined the forces of comics, journalists and politicians. Inspired by the success of The Daily Show in the States, No Pressure to be Funny started out at a pub in south London before transferring to various theatres around the capital. “We started out just asking people we thought would be suitable, and our past guests have included the likes of Ken Livingstone and Miranda Sawyer. Everyone we’ve asked has been up for it because the show has a good vibe, and we like to bring in songs to add a bit of variety to things,” says Revell.

After coming to the show at the Soho Theatre, Amnesty approached the pair, suggesting a one off collaboration for the Fringe. “No Pressure to be Funny is right up Amnesty’s street. At first, it might seem that serious work to promote and protect human rights around the world is not a natural fit with comedy, but we have got a long colourful history of working with some of the funniest people in the industry to remind people of how precious the freedom to speak freely is,” explains Shabnum Mustapha, programme director for Amnesty International Scotland. And this sentiment is clearly echoed by the show’s creators, who hope to pursue their work with the charity in the future. “It’s a great partnership because the audience we’re trying to attract is one that is interested in comedy and current affairs, and covering the issues in a reasonably intelligent way.”

And it didn’t take much to convince Nichol, who has been a supporter of the charity for years: “I’ve done Amnesty gigs for the last couple of years at the Fringe, and I think it’s a great idea. Most comedians see themselves as thinkers, and we certainly have a lot of time to think—and drink—and you think when you drink!” Maine is similarly devoted to the cause, musing: “I’m the voice of the people, and doing Amnesty gigs gets me a lot of attention and makes people think I’m a good person. We’re all just doing this to get on Mock the Week; everyone on this show is very selfish.” Jokes aside, though, No Pressure to be Funny is set to make a real impact at this year’s festival. Mustapha concludes, “the show is a rip roaring, irreverent look at some of the most pressing human rights issues of the day and the panel show is a real treat to be associated with.”