Counterpoints Arts is delighted to be co-hosting the launch of Beyond A Joke – Comedy and Social Change in the UK, by Sam Beale, supported by Unbound Philanthropy.
Dr Sam Beale is a comedy director, writer, teacher and researcher. She is a co-founder and co-director of Palestine Comedy Club (PalCom) and founder/ director of Funny Side Collective.
To celebrate and advocate live comedy as a tool for positive social change, Beyond A Joke explores how comedy initiatives are building communities, reducing social exclusion and improving mental health, and examines the effectiveness of using humour as part of social justice campaigns.
The launch event will feature a presentation of the report plus a panel discussion from experienced comedy and social change practitioners:
– Performer, facilitator and story-maker, Yasmeen Audisho Ghrawi
– The Comedy School Founder/Director, Mr Keith Palmer MBE
– Critic, K. Biswas
– Report author, Dr Sam Beale
Chaired by Laith Elzubaidi (Counterpoints Arts)
Light lunch will be served.
The report features projects and organisations currently working in the sector, to identify existing good practice, and considers opportunities for expansion and key challenges for the field. It is divided into three themed areas, highlighting the principal ways that comedy and collective laughter can be catalysed for social change:
- Comedy and community;
- Comedy, recovery and resilience;
- Comedy and campaigning.
Illustrative examples are loosely gathered under these themes with some crossovers. To support the report’s interpretative overview of the field, each section includes the insights and reflections of comedy creators, and providers and participants of ongoing projects. These identify current applications and impacts of comedy for social change practices and the skills, methods and approaches.
The launch is an invite-only event. If you would like to attend please email hello@counterpoints.org.uk
Download Beyond A Joke (pdf)
