IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Comedy Club Asia has just found out that Vir Das has unfortunately tested positive for dengue fever in the last 24 hours and therefore will not be able to make the Kings & Queen of Comedy Asia 7 festival this weekend. Standing in for Das will be Kumar, a stalwart of the event and a comic who needs no introduction in the Lion City.
The organizers said: “The Comedy Club Asia thanks all of Vir Das’s fans who have bought tickets for the 2016 edition of Singapore’s longest-running comedy festival. We would also like to wish Vir Das, who is not only a good friend but also a great comrade in the Asian comedy scene, all the best in his recovery.”
We sure do like a laugh in Singapore — whether it’s at ourselves, social media influencers or… other social media influencers. It’s no surprise, therefore, that the Kings & Queen of Comedy Asia is still going strong, now heading into its seventh year as the country’s longest-running comedy festival.
Taking place at the Esplanade on Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1, this year’s line-up features six side-splitting comics with an Asian persuasion. Let us introduce to you:
Kavin Jay
Malaysian firecracker Kavin Jay comes to the Kings & Queen festival for the first time as the host. Full of anger, satire and quick quips, he’s been described as one of the “most grumpy comedians around”, so don’t bother heckling unless you’ve got very thick skin. This year marks a decade since Jay took to the stage, so you’d better believe this dude has a hefty bank of material to throw your way.
Paul Ogata
Hailing from Hawaii, Paul Ogata’s American accent and Asian appearance allow him to rip on anyone, it seems. He’s currently one of the hottest up-and-coming comics around, no doubt thanks to his improv training and attractively cynical outlook on life. Catch him now before he gets so famous that you can’t afford him.
Harith Iskander
When it comes to Malaysian comedy, no one does it better than Harith Iskander. Not just funny-looking, this guy’s trademark knuckle-busting wit has been making folks around the world laugh until they weep — for 25 years and counting. Known as the Godfather of Malaysian comedy, he even has his own TV show, Obviously Harith Iskander — obviously.
Vir Das [CANCELED DUE TO ILLNESS]
Vir Das is India’s hottest comedy export, having recently signed with Levity Entertainment Group, the lucky devils who also nabbed Amy Schumer, Tracy Morgan and Trevor Noah. We bet their office is almost as fun as ours! After selling out multiple cities in the US, Das is now embarking on his second “Unbelievablish” tour of India. His last one smashed national records for ticket sales, so needless to say, he’s kind of a big deal.
Shazia Mirza
The sizzling Shazia Mirza first appeared in Singapore in 2012, delighting us all with her cosmopolitan intellect and outrageous disregard for the politically correct. Our kind of girl! The British Muslim of Pakistani descent is comfortable cracking jokes on any subject, be it the sex appeal of ISIS fighters or the hairiness of her own body. We’re sure she’ll have plenty to say about Singapore.
Jonathan Atherton
Don’t let Jonathan Atherton’s distinctly white name and appearance fool you into thinking he doesn’t know about Asia. This hilarious Aussie has been promoting all things laughable in Singapore for the past decade, and many homegrown comedians have found their footing under his tutelage. He has an awesome ability to hold an audience, a unique view of life, and an unparalleled grasp of languages — he claims to be able to speak 10 fluently, so don’t try and sass him in Singlish.
If you fail to find something that tickles you pink among these guys, you might as well give up on life entirely. To find out whether or not you should do this, buy tickets for the Kings & Queen of Comedy Asia 7 here.
Coconuts Singapore is Media Partners with Kings & Queen of Comedy Asia.
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