The Stand Comedy Club have announced a new strand of shows with The Palestine Comedy Club (PalCom), a Palestine-UK collective developing comedy unique to the Palestinian experience. Taking place as part of its Fringe programme, Palestine Stands Up will provide a platform at the Fringe for Palestinian artists to share their stories in Palestine and beyond, and will feature debut Fringe shows from Alaa Shehada (Jenin), Diana Sweity (Hebron) Hanna Shammas (Haifa) and Sami Abu-Wardeh (London), each bringing a distinct and unexpected perspective on living and laughing under occupation. As well as a trio of shows at the Fringe, PalCom will also visit Stand venues in Glasgow and Newcastle.

To help fund travel costs, The Stand will also hold two benefit nights that will feature some of Scotland’s leading talent. In Glasgow on Monday 16 June, host Billy Kirkwood will introduce Stuart McPherson, Ray Bradshaw, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd and Susie McCabe. Meanwhile, the Edinburgh benefit will take place on Tuesday 24 June with Susan Morrison hosting Vladimir McTavish, Marc Jennings, Krystal Evans, Ryan Cullen and Jay Lafferty.

Chair of the board at The Stand, Tommy Shepherd, said: ‘All too often people have forgot the Palestinians have a thriving Mediterranean culture. This is what the Israeli government are trying to extinguish. We’re delighted to do our part in standing in solidarity with Palestinian artists and helping them reach an international audience.’

PalCom will appear at Newcastle’s Stand on Saturday 16 August, before heading to its Edinburgh branch on Monday 18, Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 August, with a final stop-off in Glasgow on Thursday 21 August. 

Palestine Stands Up, various venues, Saturday 16 – Thursday 21 August.