Comedy Night: Arabs Are Not Funny

An introduction to some of the comedians joining us on the night:

Ahmed Ibrahim – King Kong winner October 2021, Ahmed is another of South London’s brightest lights, appearing at Up The Creek and many other top comedy clubs. His natural, relaxed style is charming and endearing.

Isabelle Farah – A British Lebanese actor, comedian, and writer. After an undergraduate in French and Film studies, she trained at Drama Studio and the Soho Theatre Comedy Lab. As an actress, she has performed in theatre in the West End and on Tour and gigged across the UK, Lisbon, Beirut, and New York City. Her short, Breakfast, was a finalist in the Funny Women Shorts Prize, and her debut show, Ellipsis, a mix of theatre and comedy, was commended for the Screenshot Award, both in 2020. Her first two shows had sellout runs at EdFringe in 2021 and 2022 and she was described as a Next Big Thing by the Evening Standard. She also narrates audiobooks and TV documentaries, but her finest work is playing a Glazed Ham in a crisps commercial.

Usif Musa – Only a year in, Usif Musa has already established himself as a promising young talent, he has beaten notorious gong shows such as the UTC blackout three times, Ding Dong Gong show (Vauxhall comedy club), and he’s Chortle student comedy semi-finalist. His calm and charismatic stage presence allows him to deliver stories and punchlines with an almost effortless demeanour that captivates everyone.

Julie-Yara Atz – a Syrian-Swiss hybrid actor whose journey to comedy started through their research on storytelling and narrative structures. A cultural anomaly, they are just as comfortable in drama as they are in comedy and are especially interested in the weird, experimental forms in between!

Talal Karkouti – British-born, Syrian-bred Talal brings stand-up and music together in a gloriously furious and raucous way. Talal took to lockdown very well. You could say he’s been training all his life for it. But even he’s ready to get back on stage and bring all his songs, silliness and pent-up fury with him.

Muhsin Yesilada – Muhsin is a stand-up comedian and psychology PhD who regularly performs in theatres and clubs like Vauxhall Comedy Club, Top Secret Comedy Club, and Backyard. He is making a name for himself on the comedy circuit, being a Chortle Student Comedy Award semi-finalist, New Act of the Year nominee, So You Think You Are Funny semi-finalist, and UK PhD Student of the Year nominee. His comedy sketches and podcast have accumulated over 20 million views across Instagram and TikTok.

*Please note that the lineup is subject to change

About Arts Canteen

Established in 2010, Arts Canteen is an arts organisation that curates and produces events, exhibitions and festivals that empowers emerging, mid-career and established artists from the Arab world and beyond to tell their own stories, change perceptions, and tackle the big issues in the world in today’s world.

Date: 23 February 2024

Start Time: 20:00

Doors: 19:00

Age Limit: 16+

Length: TBC

Tickets: £17 + booking fee

Venue: Grand Junction is a venue for the community, arts and culture based at St Mary Magdalene Church. We also have a café serving delicious food overlooking the canal.

Closest Stations: Royal Oak (Circle and Hammersmith & City line) 0.64km

Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo line) 0.64km

Paddington Station (National Rail services and Circle, District, Bakerloo, Hammersmith & City line) 1.4km