Welcome to the 'Jungle': Comedians in Calais

Back in the 1980s, I'd watch The A-Team liberate sweatshops, save refugees and occasionally drive a converted van through an illegal melon factory. Subsequently, I have high expectations of how we should deal with a humanitarian crisis.

Earlier this year, clashes broke out in the French port of Calais, demolition teams dismantled huts in part of the migrant camp known as the 'Jungle', and riot police fired tear gas at refugees. I kidded myself some form of heroic intervention would arrive.

But TV lied.

Instead, governments have continued to debate exactly how to ignore the situation. Casualties are rising and many children have gone missing from the camps under sinister circumstances. If all this wasn't depressing enough, our own Parliament voted against granting child refugees sanctuary in our country. While no-one said these decisions are easy and free of consequence (and the government have made a partial u-turn) we may as well turn to Dracula when it comes to taking a lesson in 'doing the right thing'. And, on a global level in politics, we might be sleepwalking towards a frightening, dark future, where a racist human-yam is elected to build a wall around tequila, jalapeños and Salma Hayek.

But what can we do?

It's understandable we sometimes feel powerless: work is tough and hard to come by, economic cuts are harsh and living costs get higher. The political complexities underpinning such a crisis are so hard to fathom that indifference is a seductive response. On the other hand, the situation is oversimplified: think of the The Daily Mail and their picture of rats running across borders and the language tabloids use such as a 'plague' or a 'swarm'.

Then again, our problems amount to little compared to those who are suffering in the camps. People have been forced to escape their countries of origin for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is a choice between a theocratic or totalitarian dictatorship. Many of their homes have been turned into craters, in a country where beheadings still take place. The worst thing that happened to me this weekend was when the power went down on my Kindle and I had to read an actual book. That contrast might seem crass, but it's a contrast of the world we live in.

It's said journalism is a serious business, but as a writer for the Comedy section, I never have to think too much about how I'd approach an in-depth article on Medecin Sans Frontieres' response to the largest displacement crisis since the Second World War. Nope, I'm just inundated with offers of nice, comfy features on the bloke who played Bungle in Rainbow.

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More from The Skinny:

 Refugees and beheadings: Reporters risking death

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And perhaps that's how it should be. Until MSF's Doctors put on a medical student revue at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe I doubt they'll be asking anything of this particular misanthrope. But it does mean a blind spot can form if we only write about artists putting on a show. Sometimes comedians are involved in something as important and interesting as an initiative set up to offer practical help to those affected by global conflicts.

Help Refugees is just such an initiative and grew out of the #helpcalais campaign on social media. Started by various writers and presenters such as Lliana Bird, Dawn O'Porter, Josie Naughton and Heydon Prowse, it has a straightforward aim: raise funds and collect goods to take to the migrant camps. Camille Ucan and James McNicholas, of the respective comedy sketch groups Birthday Girls and Beasts, travelled with donations to the camps in both Calais and Dunkirk this February.

Catching-up with Ucan, she found a huge distance between the real horror of the world and the glossy media lens we see it through; a distance far greater than the journey across the Channel. "The reality of the situation hits home straight away," she says. "You're no longer able to distance yourself from it via a screen."

"There is a real benefit to that," adds Ucan. "At home, you feel powerless to help. When you see something on the television or in newspapers, you’re generally presented with the problems. The refreshing thing about going out there was that you’re suddenly able to help towards providing practical solutions – however small.”

The importance of comedy in tragedy

Comedians have often rallied around good causes, to perform and be a light in the shadow of tragedy. However, Ucan and McNicholas weren't there to perform, they went simply to take a load of helpful stuff to people who needed it. One thing all comedians have is courage and they aren't afraid to look squarely at any situation. By knowing what is funny, they also know what is serious. They show us we don’t have to be indifferent or feel helpless.

The child inside all of us, who grew up watching the likes of Hannibal, Murdoch, Face and BA and dreamed of being the hero, is going to have to wait a long time for inspiration via the government or our TV screen. We'd do better to take our lead from others, perhaps those in the most difficult circumstances: "It’s a depressing situation," says Ucan, "but the resilience of the people living there – and the enthusiasm of those volunteering – is amazing.

"If you can spare your time or even just a donation, contact Help Refugees."