Irish comedian takes on the death penalty for Amnesty International

dublin | arts and media | event notice Monday October 05, 2009 15:44 by Amnesty1 - Amnesty International Ireland info at amnesty dot ie

Top Irish comedian Keith Farnan is set to make a mockery of the death penalty in aid of Amnesty International Ireland on the opening night of his six night run next week at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin.

What: Opening night benefit gig for Amnesty International as part of Keith Farnan’s ‘Cruel and Unusual’ stand-up comedy show running all next week

Who: Keith Farnan, fresh from his sell out run at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival

Where: Project Arts Centre, 39 East Essex St, Temple Bar, Dublin

When: 8pm on Monday 12 October 2009 and tickets are €15/€12

Top Irish comedian Keith Farnan is set to make a mockery of the death penalty in aid of Amnesty International Ireland on the opening night of his six night run next week at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin.

Keith, who has been compared to comic heavyweights like Dylan Moran and Eddie Izzard, is bringing ‘Cruel and Unusual’, his unique stand-up show taking a black humoured look at the death penalty, to the Project Arts Centre with all proceeds from Monday night going to Amnesty International Ireland.

The show takes it’s title from a clause under the US constitution which prohibits ‘Cruel and unusual’ punishment but Keith takes us inside a bizarre and grotesque system without ever losing the ability to highlight its absurdities through humour.

Keith said: “Amnesty International has a unique reputation for using any and all mediums, including comedy, to highlight human rights abuses around the world and it's a privilege to have them involved in the opening night in Dublin.

“Cruel and Unusual is first and foremost a stand-up show designed to entertain people, but it also tries to engage them in a topic they might not normally find themselves thinking or talking about.”

Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O’ Gorman, said: “State authorised killing continues to be used as a tool of political repression.

“We’re delighted that Keith is working with us to illustrate the grave need to abolish the death penalty around the world. Comedy is an excellent vehicle to highlight the futility of this brutal and inhuman form of punishment. “

Cruel and Unusual, which has already been staged at the Royal Festival Hall, London as well as being featured on BBC Radio 4, details Keith’s research into the death penalty in the United States. His remarkable experiences include visiting the Innocence Project in New York and meeting Sr Helen Prejean of Dead Man Walking fame to spending time with the among public defenders office in Georgia.

2008 Death Penalty statistics

On average 7 people were executed everyday around the World in 2008

Five countries carried out 93% of all executions (China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the USA)

Methods used included: BEHEADING, STONING, HANGING, LETHAL INJECTION, SHOOTING, and ELECTROCUTION

Fifty nine countries retain the death penalty

Two thirds of countries in the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice

Only one country in Europe continues to execute people – Belarus

In 2008 Iran executed 8 prisoners who were under 18 at the time of the offence – a flagrant breach of international law