Like a cross-cultural laughter balm to the increasingly fragmented times, The Laughter Factory’s second tour of 2017 features an all-star bill of three comedians from three different continents, set to perform across Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi – Canadian Peter White, British-Nigerian Funmbi Omotayo, and Aussie Damian Clark.
Each having achieved widespread fame in their own countries – and beyond – this bill represents a cool snapshot of the diverse state of stand-up today, say the folks at The Laughter Factory. The trio will perform at the Grand Hyatt Doha at 8pm, on both Monday and Tuesday. Priced at QR140, tickets are available at thelaughterfactory.com
Clark, the high-octane Aussie who The Scotsman has called “the world’s wittiest machine gun”, is what one might call a “comedian’s comedian” – a man with friends, and fans, in very high places, including Kevin Bridges, who has hailed him “infectious, hilarious and highly recommended.” Currently based in Ireland, Clark has roundly conquered his adopted home, with featured slots on RTE’s Republic of Telly, TV3’s The Apprentice: You’re Fired!, as well as writing and co-starring in Ireland’s highest-ranked sitcom, I Dare Ya! But performing live, he is at a whole other level – uncontrollably exuberant, in-your-face and taking no prisoners, we are told.
London comic Omotayo’s relaxed, charming delivery, spinning out stories with a gentle pace is said to melt the coldest of comedy hearts. Winner of the Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year competition in 2012, Omotayo was launched onto the national consciousness soon after with a slot on the primetime John Bishop Show. His star is very much in ascent; last year, Omotayo made a strong showing with his Edinburgh Fringe debut, a lauded solo show entitled Legal Immigrant that told the tale of his family’s move, following their roots from Hackney to Lagos... and back again. Sprinkled with a warm wit and insight, Omotayo opens up about his youth in East London, working in Harrods and discovering his African identity.
Within a year of picking up a mic, White was recognised as one of the “Top five upcoming Comedians in Canada” by national CBC Radio. That was back in 2005. Over the past decade, White has more than lived up to the hype. Known for a slyly self-deprecating stage shtick, exploring the funnier facts and mundane moments which make up the life of a 21st century man, White is established as one of the most enduring comics working today. Following his surprise breakout, White was quickly established as an A-list club comic in his own country, and soon went on to headline all Canada’s major festivals – including Montreal’s prestigious Just For Laughs and three consecutive years at the Halifax Comedy Festival – and in 2010 taped an hour-long stand-up special for CTV and Comedy Network.
In the run-up to another exciting show boasting of such a wide range of talent, Gail Clough, co-founder of The Laughter Factory, told Community what the biggest challenge of programming stand-up comedy shows for the region is, “To be honest, I’d say trying to get excellent women. Our audiences love women and not enough women have a go at stand-up. It’s a numbers game; for every 100 men, there is 1 woman. Come on, girls… show some strength!”
Middle East’s longest-running comedy night, The Laughter Factory has been making the GCC laugh since 1997, now a good two decades and running. Thanks to a longstanding partnership with the UK’s Comedy Store, The Laughter Factory hosts a fresh bill of three different professional comedians every month, many already familiar stars of the screen on hit UK TV shows, Clough says. “We just want to improve the standard and diversify the line-ups so more people can laugh with us,” she said.
Of the many memorable experiences she has had thus far in putting this together month after month with her partner-in-crime Duncan Jones, Clough picks one that still makes her chuckle. “The first time we brought Russell Peters on a Laughter Factory tour to a string of 5-Star hotels, was before he became famous. The best part was seeing all the Indian staff abandon their posts and sneak down to the show and watch from the back. The hotels literally ground to a halt,” she said.
With a reputation for quality and a sharp eye for talent, The Laughter Factory has showcased reams of A-list comics on their way to superstardom. What then are the three main things in a stand-up comedy show that pleases her the most? Clough said, “The audience laughing, the audience laughing, and the audience laughing!”