Something funny going on
Next week's Magners Comedy Festival is apt to trigger an epidemic of split sides
IF YOU COULD use a good laugh – and who couldn’t – Bangkok is hosting Asia’s biggest touring chuckle event next week – the Magners International Comedy Festival.
Nine of the funniest humans on the planet will be sharing stages at three different venues next Thursday through Saturday.
This is the third year for the festival, which has previously tickled ribs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines. Evidently they finally think they’re funny enough for Amusing Thailand.
A firm called Magic Rock is the organiser. The Comedy Club Bangkok on Sukhumvit Soi 33/1 is the official host, though performances will also take place at Tenderloins Bar and Steak House on Sukhumvit Soi 33 and Altitude at the top of The Westin Grande Sukhumvit further along the road.
“This festival puts Bangkok on the map in the comedy scene in Asia,” says Comedy Club creative director Chris Wegoda, sounding far too modest.
“We’ve had some world-class comedians at our venue,” adds Drew McCreadie, one of the club’s founders, “but nothing can compare to the sheer volume of talent that we’ll be seeing next week. This is a rare opportunity to see some of the best in the business, up close and personal. It’s going to be very exciting!”
He sounds very excited indeed, particularly about the fact that Bangkok is the only stop on the festival tour that will get a double barrel of laughs in the form of both improv and stand-up comedy.
“The amount of work that goes into putting on a festival like this is beyond description,” McCreadie says. “I hope everyone appreciates all the hard work that’s been put in and that everyone buys a ticket for themselves, their friends, and one more to keep in the trophy case at home!”
A veteran joker himself, the Canadian will be taking the stage during the proceedings, muscling in with the luminaries of international hilarity. Irish stand-up specialist Martin Mor will be there, and Earl Oakin, the “sex symbol” of British musical-comedy, who used to trade jibes with the Beatles.
Leo Comedy Award winner Erica Sigurdson, another Canadian in from the cold, is on the roster, as are Luke Ashlocke (the Comedy Club Bangkok’s first headliner), Matthew Giffen, Wes Zaharuk, Anto Chan, Lars Callieou and many more.
Next Thursday being Saint Patrick’s Day, Mor and Giffen – the festival’s other Irish gag-monger – will have place of honour at the Comedy Club Bangkok. Leprechaun stories are a possibility, but don’t get your hopes up.
Every show at all three venues will have at least three foreign comedians headlining. At the Comedy Club and Altitude the fun starts at 8pm and at Tenderloins it’s 9.45, with the session on Thursday to be followed at 11 by an “improvisation jam” hosted by McCreadie.
The Comedy Club Bangkok, the city’s only dedicated English-language humour venue, opened above the Royal Oak pub in September 2014.
Yuks on parade
THURSDAY
Comedy Club Bangkok, 8pm: Martin Mor, Wes Zaharuk, Matthew Giffen
Attitude, 8pm: Anto Chan, Erica Sigurdson, Luke Ashlocke, Earl Okin, Lars Callicou
Attitude, 11pm: Improv jam (free for everyone attending the 8pm show)
FRIDAY
Comedy Club Bangkok, 8pm: Luke Ashlocke, Erica Sigurdson, Wes Zaharuk, Anto Chan
Tenderloins, 9.45pm: Martin Mor, Earl Okin, Matthew Giffen, Lars Collicou
SATURDAY
Comedy Club Bangkok, 7.30pm: Lars Collicou, Earl Okin, Martin Mor, Matthew Giffen
Tenderloins, 9.45pm: Anto Chan, Luke Ashlocke, Wes Zaharuk, Erica Sigurdson
The Magners International Comedy Festival takes place at the Comedy Club Bangkok (Sukhumvit Soi 33/1), Tenderloins Bar and Steak House (Sukhumvit Soi 33) and Altitude at the Westin Grande Sukhumvit (Soi 19) next Thursday through Saturday.
Tickets cost Bt750 until Wednesday and are Bt1,000 at the door.
Find out more at www.ComedyClubBangkok.com
