Diwali 2022

From India we welcome the brilliant Sahil Shah, one of India’s top comedians and a founding member of India’s premiere comedy collective East India Comedy. Joining Sahil are BBC New Comedy Award semi-finalist Priya Hall (as seen on Stand up for Live Comedy, BBC One & Three), Londoner Raj Poojara, a comedy newcomer who is taking the UK live circuit by storm, doctor turned comedian, Shalaka Kurup who loves telling stories about her family and life in the UK, and globetrotting stand-up star Sid Singh, who has recently toured his ‘game changer of a show’ (Scotsman) around the US and Europe.

Grab your seat and get yourself geared up for some serious laughter

Entry is free.

2.30pm – 4pm Show 1
4.45pm – 6.15pm Show 2

Sid Singh – MC for both shows

Sid Singh is an accomplished stand up comedian and writer whose work has appeared on BBC’s Muzlamic and Comic Relief, Comedy Central UK’s Modern Horror Stories, BBC3’s Comedy Shorts, and more! Most recently he was a cast member at the famed Boom Chicago theatre in Amsterdam where he wrote and starred in their hit show The Future Is Here.

‘His coolness on stage is remnant of that of Dave Chappelle, whilst his level-headed demeanour is likened to late-night talk show hosts like Trevor Noah and Stephen Colbert. How is this guy not bigger than he currently is.’  – Radio Haha

Sahil Shah

Sahil Shah is one of India’s top comedians and a founding member of India’s premiere comedy collective East India Comedy (Humble Brag). His comedy is observational and he uses one-liners, puns and anecdotes to talk about the silliness and pointlessness of everything. Over the past 10 years of comedy his stand up videos have garnered tremendous views and he’s performed in more than 1500 shows He also performed at the Global Citizen Festival for 80,000 people (Coldplay was also on the lineup….But he likes to believe that everyone came to watch him.) After a sold-out tour of 25 cities across 4 countries, he released his special Childish Behaviour on Amazon Prime Video and is recently toured his new special Thak Life.

Raj Poojara

Raj Poojara is a comedy newcomer taking the UK live circuit by storm. His first performance at London’s Backyard Comedy Club went so well that his second gig was in front of a sold-out theatre as a headline’s opening act. Raj spent his first year in comedy entering every competition he could find and to great success; Finalist at ‘Rising Star’ New Comedian of the Year, ‘Go New York’ at South Ken Comedy Club and the Max Turner Award. Semi Finalist at Get Up! Stand Up! New Comedian of the year and ‘So You Think You’re Funny?’ As Raj says, ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’… Perhaps his fortunes will change now he’s reached the upcoming semis of Manford’s Comedy competition. Raj has wisely focussed during the pandemic on his online output, starting a YouTube series and a podcast with fellow comics.

Priya Hall

Priya Hall is a stand up comedian and writer. She has featured on Stand up for Live Comedy (BBC One & Three), Live From Aberystwyth Pier (BBC One Wales and BBC Radio Wales), Fred At The Stand (BBC Radio 4), Machynlleth Comedy Showcase (BBC Radio Wales), Stand Yp (S4C). Priya has also written and starred in a new BBC 2 Wales pilot, Beena and Amrit. She has been a guest panellist on The Blame Game (BBC NI) and a team captain on What Just Happened? (BBC Radio Wales). She was a semi-finalist in the BBC New Comedy Awards 2021.

Shalaka Kurup

Shalaka is an Indian immigrant who is a huge fan of living, laughing and loving. She is a doctor by education, comedian by choice and a user researcher by needing to pay the bills. An observational comedian, Shalaka loves telling stories about her life in the UK, what it’s like being Indian, and her family (they love it, just don’t show them any videos).
She’s performed at venues across London, including Backyard Comedy Club, Angel Comedy and Vauxhall Comedy Club. She’s also beat the notorious King Gong at the Comedy Store – watch her onstage over there in November

2Northdown New Act Competition Semi-Finalist 2022
‘Deadpan joy’ – James Walsh, The Morning Star