Benedict Cumberbatch stuns theatregoers with anti-government speech

Last Updated: October 30, 2015By

Vox Political will be adding Benedict Cumberbatch to the ever-growing list of actors and celebrites who seem to have more of a clue than our elected representatives.

The actor Benedict Cumberbatch has shown his growing frustration over the migration crisis during a speech after his Hamlet performance – reportedly saying “f*** the politicians”.

The Sherlock star has been giving nightly speeches after his curtain call at the Barbican in London and asking for donations to help Syrian refugees. So far, audience contributions have raised more than £150,000 for Save the Children.

Cumberbatch has been particularly critical of the British government’s decision to accept only 20,000 refugees over five years.

During the speeches, Cumberbatch has been reading a poem called Home by Somali poet Warsan Shire, the same one he read in the introduction to Help is Coming, Save the Children’s charity single, released in the summer. It includes the line: “No one puts children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.”

Cumberbatch has told theatregoers of a friend’s experience volunteering on the Greek island of Lesbos, where 5,000 people had been arriving every day.

“Everywhere on the horizon there was nothing but boats and on the shoreline nothing but lifejackets,” he said. “We are saying, as citizens of the world, we see you … and at least some help is coming.”

Several members of the audience on Tuesday said they supported Cumberbatch’s frustration with politicians, which led him to use the swear word, despite the fact the Lib Dem peer Lady Shirley Williams was in the audience.

Source: Benedict Cumberbatch stuns theatregoers with anti-government speech | UK news | The Guardian

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9 Comments

  1. stephen brophy October 30, 2015 at 1:19 pm - Reply

    Good for him! I always liked benedict cumberbatch as an actor! we need more like him!

    • Ian Johnson October 30, 2015 at 3:50 pm - Reply

      We need more talented working class non-legacy actors coming through also to tell it like it is from the sharp end. Too many public school toffs getting all the breaks these days. Good on Bumber for sticking his neck out though.

      • Mike Sivier October 30, 2015 at 7:14 pm - Reply

        “Bumber”?

  2. Jeffery Davies October 30, 2015 at 2:27 pm - Reply

    One more that has openned his eyes to the plight this lot hasdone to its population

  3. hayfords October 30, 2015 at 4:33 pm - Reply

    Why is this newsworthy? It is yet another actor sounding off. He view is no more worthy that anyone who I might meet in the street. It is not a question of politics, but an actor’s view is pretty much irrelevant no matter what party they support or what their views are of the current government no matter what it’s complexion.

    • Mike Sivier October 30, 2015 at 7:15 pm - Reply

      What did you think when Michael Caine was sounding off for the Tories in the run-up to whichever general election it was?

      • hayfords October 30, 2015 at 9:12 pm - Reply

        I am just bored by an actor attacking government policy whether it is Conservative or Labour. They are entertainers and that is probably the limit of their talents. Being in the public eye doesn’t make your opinions more valid. The same applies to singers and comedians. Having some popularity gives them a false impression of their value.

        • Mike Sivier October 31, 2015 at 2:42 am - Reply

          Being in the public eye means they can achieve results that less visible people cannot.
          This particular gentleman has been raising money for Save The Children, which is a laudable matter in itself.
          The mere fact that he has decided to use his time in this way raises his value – both in the estimation of others like myself, and in fact.

  4. shaunt October 30, 2015 at 6:22 pm - Reply

    A principled and brave move. He/we need to be prepared for some mud slinging from the likes of the Daily Fail and News International (e.g. the Sun and Times newspapers). For despite what those peddlers of miss-information and distorted reasoning state speaking out against the Tory oligarchy is not good way to enhance an entertainer’s career.

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