david@khaleejtimes.com Filed on May 16, 2021
As Christian Talbot once stated: “Words can’t express how much I hate World Emoji Day,” and this week I am equally tongue-tied at the extent I’ve missed live comics telling jokes on stage. For longer than I’d care to remember, the smell of the crowd and the roar of the greasepaint has eluded many, either through choice or reduced capacity resulting in tickets being sold out. However, as the Dubai Comedy Festival gathers pace this week, with a host of diverse shows being put on an almost every day until May 22, there’s no excuse not to get up for stand-up. Over the weekend we saw the return of the Laughter Factory at the Movenpick JBR to light the fuse on the wave of witticisms. Three comedians, one microphone and a socially-distanced room full of people; the recipe sounds so simple, though the effect was mesmeric. Perhaps down to the Agostino Zoida, George Zach and Ari Matti trio, or maybe the combination of solid
Comic and It s Always Sunny writer Agostino Zoida debuting at Dubai Laughter Factory
LA stand-up tells us how he made the most of a year away from the stage
BEING PART OF the now revered Dubai Comedy Festival is no mean feat. The continuously raising standard of shows, the amount of interest from punters and the increased attention a shining beacon of live entertainment now garners dictates acts simply have to be hilarious. There’s no wriggle-room for ‘also-rans’. With 25 years in the business of sourcing some of the world’s best stand-ups and bringing them to the UAE, The Laughter Factory has therefore gone all out to make an impact. Flying in from his native LA to headline their Downright Nasty! tour is Italian-American Agostino Zoida, a contributor to shows such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and American Horror Story, and a regular at The Comedy Store. We thought we’d have a chat before he debuted on March 13.
this month.
After its successful debut in 2015, the Dubai Comedy Festival returns for its third iteration with 10 days of shows, starting on Thursday
, and held in various locations across the city.
While it is tempting to see the big international names, such as US comics Eddie Griffin and Maz Jobrani, the festival will also shine a light on the vibrant UAE comedy scene with talents and styles reflecting the eclectic and multicultural nature of the region.
Here are five UAE comics to check out at the festival.
1. Ali Al Sayed
The elder statesman of UAE stand-up comedy, the Emirati performer has been leading the revival of the local scene, having performed residencies in Dubai since August 2020.
.
“The first time this really happened to me, I engaged with the audience member and tried to find the funny side while still arguing,” he tells
The National, ahead of his Dubai Comedy Festival show this month.
He was talking generally about the state of US politics. “I learnt this was not the best way to go about it, as people, particularly in the US, were too heated.
“So I decided to
tai-
chi the situation, in a way, and let the person talk and then let them ultimately understand that we are not going to agree with each other and that’s just how it is.”
Burj Khalifa Burj Khalifa to light up over Eid break Image Credit: Supplied
UAE residents and visitors will witness a brand new Burj Khalifa light show, which will be choreographed to a special track titled ‘Esmaha Dubai’, a song written by Emirati music composer and director Mohamed Al Ahmed, which will make its big debut.
The show will take place at 8pm every night over the long weekend.
Dubai Fountain Dubai Fountain Image Credit: GN Archives
Burj Khalifa isn’t the only venue that will light up for Eid festivities. The Dubai Fountain, a landmark in its own right, will also dance to the tunes of ‘Esmaha Dubai’ by Al Ahmed, with the world’s tallest tower illuminating as a perfect backdrop.