Dictators, tyrants and oppressors beware – the Secret Policeman’s Ball is back!

Maddy Fry reports on her impressions of the legendary Amnesty International comedy show that, after a 15-year hiatus, recently made a star-studded return.

''There are only a few events that I’ve attended that I would describe as life-changing, and the Secret Policeman’s Ball was undoubtedly one of them.''

I’m too young to remember the last Secret Policeman’s Ball, but as someone who has been a member of Amnesty International for five years I am well aware of the cult status that the Ball has within both the Amnesty community and the wider world.

Comedy may seem to a lot of us a trivial weapon to fight with when faced with the world’s ills. It’s barely able to marginally deflate the egos of some pompous politicians and self-righteous celebrities, let alone topple oppressive regimes and free prisoners of conscience. But the old adage ‘laughter is the best cure’ can be more effective than you think.

Despite my own scepticism, I couldn’t resist the chance to see this year’s Ball, particularly as all the proceeds would be going to Amnesty. Although I wasn’t able to get tickets to the live showing at the Albert Hall in London, I went to see a live screening at the Phoenix Picturehouse cinema in Oxford on Saturday 14 October.

There are only a few events that I’ve attended that I would describe as life-changing, and the Secret Policeman’s Ball was undoubtedly one of them. The whole 3 hours and 40 minutes was an ingenious mixture of comedy, music, seriousness and, at times, crushing sadness. I almost choked to death on my own laughter during the Mighty Boosh team’s Russian Pie sketch, whilst I was brought to tears by the horrifyingly ironic Protect the Human cartoon. The cartoon involved a plea from all of the world’s major diseases for greater controls on small arms because they are killing people at a greater rate each year than measles, malaria or yellow fever.

Although no-one present was allowed to forget why they were there, the spirit of the Ball was a guilt-free one. From the Diary of a Dictator sketch, to Jeremy Irons’ reminder to everyone to make use of their individual action cards, the mood was one of solidarity and hope instead of despair. Not giving in to the thought that none of us could make a difference, or that we should not be merry in light of the misery of the world, was the best act of defiance possible to those who would like to oppress us. The Devil was mocked, and he fled with his tail between his legs.

Although some elements of the show were surprisingly un-PC – such as when the cast were ceremonially raped by giant rabbits at the end – it only served to drive home Amnesty’s message of the need for free speech. Mark Twain said that sacred cows make the best hamburgers; but he said it best with the claim that: “The human race has one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”