Amnesty's Comedy Conversations

We caught up with Sarah Kendall in Brooks Bar at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She was performing her latest show, 'Touchdown'. We find out why you shouldn't shake up your set even after 35 shows, she reveals how she practices the rudest thing you can do on Twitter! And why she doesn't mess around with her stage 'uniform'. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

We caught up with Felicity Ward in Abbatoir Bar at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where she was performing her latest stand-up show 'The Iceberg'. She talks us through one of the worst gigs she ever played, how terrifying her first 12 minutes of stand-up comedy were, and getting her comeuppance on a radio show. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

We had a chat with Tiffany Stevenson in the Loft Bar at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh, fresh from performing her show 'Optimist'. Tiff reveals the first time she recognised sexism at age 14, she talks about the importance of 'punching up' when you're telling jokes, and finally - the secret waterslide confession she wishes she'd kept to herself! Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

The vastly experienced and talented Jeremy Hardy talks to us backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival in London about Twitter, politics, why he should never be allowed to be in a position of power and the incredible lies that his grandmother told him. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

Listen to renowned comedian, satirist and ski jumper, Marcus Brigstocke tell us how he’d love to do more reality TV despite the injuries, perils of performing while on crutches and the ups and (sometimes very fast) downs of life as a comedian. It’s a slippery slope (No!. ed) Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

We invited ourselves round to Lucy Porter’s palatial temporary home in Edinburgh where she's been performing her latest show 'Me Time' to talk about her new play, her love of shocking comedy and what it's like to perform to a room full of babies. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

Listen to poet, actor, cartoonist and of course comedian, Phill Jupitus, chat to us about overcoming rejection early on in his career, his altar ego Porky the Poet and the power of comedy to change absolutely nothing at all whatsoever. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

Backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival in London Mark Steel tells us about the easiest standing ovation he ever got, soulless football stadiums and how FIFA don’t give a flying Pukka for the game. He also chats to us about his bid to uncover idiosyncrasies of every place he tours. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

Delve into the hilarious and rambling mind of Canadian stand up Tony Law as he reveals his surprising talent for performing World War II aircraft impressions and chats about training dogs to play pool. Plus interpretive dance, costume design and being upstaged by a couple of five-year-olds. The young have no respect these days. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

Listen to stand up and Mock the Week regular Zoe Lyons tell us why she's choosey about festivals, reminisce about her worst moment on stage and perfecting her turkey in an oven impression. She also reveals her belief that in the right hands, comedy can make people think differently. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

We joined comedian Kevin Day fresh from performing his show 'Stand Uppy' at The Balham Comedy Festival in London where he told us about a typical day in the life of a comedy writer, and reveals his views on racism in football and the controversial subject of FIFA’s stinking decision to award the world cup to Qatar. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

We went backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival in London to chat to the extremely funny stand up and novelist Mary Bourke. She reveals her thoughts on the rape jokes, the power of a dress and heels and dispels a few myths on heckling. She also explains how you never want to upset an audience in Glasgow. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

We went backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival to have a chuckle with the hilarious Reginald D Hunter. He reveals how he started out as an actor and only got into comedy because of a dare and discusses his latest BBC documentary. We also discuss Britain' Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

We caught up with Shappi as she stepped off the stage after performing her show 'Because I'm Shappi...' at the Edinburgh festival. She fills us in on the unusual occurrences during that nights show; weird noises, ghosts and an unwelcome hug to name a few. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

We went backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival to chat with comedian and star of 'Not Going Out' Tim Vine. We find out about his new show, musically entitled 'Timtiminee, Timtiminee, Tim Tim to you'. We also hear his thoughts on England's disappointing exit from the World Cup. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

We sat down with Rob Newman at the Balham Comedy Festival in London to chat with the deep thinking comedian. He told us about his one hour show 'New Theory of Evolution' and his trepidation at returning to the Edinburgh festival after a seven year break. Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk

We went backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival 2014 to catch up with the pioneer of the podcast. Fresh from performing his new show 'Lord of the dance settee', he reminisces on his most memorable podcast moments, including some unexpected answers from Stephen Fry. He also defends fellow comedian Frankie Boyle and his own material on the holocaust and there's even time for some chat about demonic monks and mechanical dogs! Find out more about our work supporting free speech and comedy at www.amnesty.org.uk