The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

:* "This article is about the 1981 Amnesty International benefit show (and resulting movies and albums)
— the sequel to the original 1979 show."
:* "For the 1979 show - see The Secret Policeman's Ball"
:* "For the article about the entire series of Amnesty's "Secret Policeman's Ball" shows see: The Secret Policeman's Balls"

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball was the fourth of the benefit shows staged by the British Section of Amnesty International to raise funds for its research and campaign work in the human rights field. It was the second of many shows to bear the celebrated "Secret Policeman's" title that became the iconic series known informally as "The Secret Policeman's Balls".

The show took place in London in September 1981. It was a successor to the 1979 show "The Secret Policeman's Ball".

The show was directed by Monty Python alumnus John Cleese and produced by Martin Lewis & Peter Walker [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117794729.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0] (Amnesty's fundraising officer). It subsequently yielded two separate movies (one version for the UK, directed by Julien Temple, and a quite different version for the US) and two record albums (one each of comedy and music performances).

The show was very influential in galvanizing rock musicians to become involved in the human rights issue and in other political and social causes in subsequent decades. Musicians who performed at the show who subsequently became activists in various fields include Sting, Bob Geldof, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins and Midge Ure.

Cast

The cast of comedic performers in the stage production was:
* Rowan Atkinson, Jeff Beck, Alan Bennett, John Bird, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Jasper Carrott, Graham Chapman, Eric Clapton, John Cleese, Phil Collins, Billy Connolly, Donovan, John Fortune, Bob Geldof, Barry Humphries, Neil Innes, Chris Langham, Griff Rhys Jones, Alexei Sayle, Pamela Stephenson, Sting, Pete Townshend, John Wells and Victoria Wood.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084648/ the movie (UK)]
* [http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Policemans-Other-Ball-Music/dp/B0000032V3 the music]