Imagine two prisoners, Ronnie and Reggie, both of whom have committed identical crimes under identical circumstances, and who have both been sentenced to 4 years in identical prison facilities. In fact, their punishment conditions are identical in all respects—except that Ronnie is tormented by prison life and lives in a constant state of fear and distress, whilst Reggie finds prison life merely difficult and unpleasant. If we subscribe to the “equality principle” of equal punishment for equal crimes, have Ronnie and Reggie been punished equally?

Legal systems operate on a pain principle: punishments should involve a loss, and that loss should be painful. The problem is, some of us suffer more keenly than others. In this interactive show for the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe's Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas, I explore the ethical and legal implications of this human reality. 

Date & Time: 7 August 2017, 13:50-14:50
Venue: New Town Theatre (Venue 7)

Tickets can be booked here.