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Artist News Gigs & Festivals
CMU Business Editor returns to Edinburgh Fringe with his Free Speech
By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 1 August 2016
Talking of the Edinburgh Festival, CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke is taking his spoken word show ‘Chris Cooke’s Free Speech’ back to the Fringe for the final week of the Festival this year, with five performances from 23-27 Aug.
He explains: “It’s a free speech about free speech. This show originates in a debate I organised at The Great Escape two years ago that centred on the motion ‘British radio should have banned ‘Blurred Lines”. Sussex University, which did ban the controversial track on its campus, proposed the motion, but I wanted someone from within the industry to speak in favour too. That was really hard to find! So I did it myself, and in doing so convinced myself that British radio should have banned ‘Blurred Lines'”.
“This despite the fact that in nearly all of the free speech controversies of recent years I sided with the freedom of expression side of the debate, even when that means defending people with outrageous opinions and invasive tabloid journalists”, he goes on. “So what’s different his time? In the speech I explain what the law actually says about free speech, then review the various controversies, before outlining why I think British radio should have banned ‘Blurred Lines'”.
The ‘Free Speech’ will be performed at theSpace @ Symposium Hall at 10.30am from 23-27 Aug. Tickets are free and can be booked here.