Brown Sauce and Tara Theatre to launch The Comedy Lab
- Brown Sauce comedy club and Tara Theatre have teamed up to organise a free stand-up workshop for comics from a South Asian background
- The inaugural Comedy Lab will be on Friday 29th September, and features a showcase gig in the evening hosted by a top headliner
- Brown Sauce founder Sharlin Jahan says: "The Comedy Lab is a fantastic chance for emerging South Asian comedians to shine and be part of a supportive community"
Brown Sauce, the leading London-based monthly club for South Asian comedy, has announced a partnership with Tara Theatre for an exclusive free stand-up workshop and a linked showcase gig.
The Comedy Lab will offer aspiring comedians the chance to participate in a free one-day workshop in London, where they will receive expert guidance from comedy professionals, honing their stand-up skills and expanding their comedic repertoire. The day will culminate in a ticketed showcase event, where participants will have the opportunity to perform up to a 5-minute routine alongside a top headliner.
The inaugural Comedy Lab will be on Friday 29th September, as part of the brand new Tara Specials series. This collaboration aims to provide a unique opportunity for new South Asian unsigned comedy enthusiasts and performers to showcase their talent and connect with like-minded individuals.
Eligibility criteria include being of South Asian background and having 0-2 years of experience on the comedy scene.
Brown Sauce founder Sharlin Jahan (pictured below) says: "Starting out in the comedy world isn't easy, but with this partnership, we seek to change that by creating more spaces for the South Asian Community. The Comedy Lab is a fantastic chance for emerging South Asian comedians to shine and be part of a supportive community."
Producing work and providing a space for artists to grow for four decades, Tara Theatre is the UK's oldest global majority-led theatre company. Its CEO and artistic director, Abdul Shayek, says: "Comedy has been such a crucial part of the diaspora. It's a way for us to tell our story and laugh at ourselves. Additionally comedy allows us to point out the contradictions and challenges of institutional racism that sit at the heart of how the South Asian community has been treated. Comedy seems to be an integral part to how the diaspora connect with each other. This is why we must support the next generation of South Asian comedians."
Tara Theatre's senior producer Neena Shea adds: "We wanted to create a home where South Asian rising stars and emerging comedians can meet other artists and support each other."
The application form for The Comedy Lab is available now, with the deadline to apply set as 11th August 2023. Successful applicants will be notified by 28th August, and the workshop and showcase will take place on 29th September.
To apply for the workshop visit taratheatre.com
The headliner for the evening showcase event will be revealed shortly, with tickets for the gig on sale now
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