“Five years ago you couldn’t get an Asian woman out of the house, now they’re all doing stand-up comedy!” Shazia’s opening wisecrack got a roar of laughter from the audience but it didn’t conceal the look of concern on her face entirely… the Funny Women heat at Asia House proved there is a hotbed of Asian talent out there, so Shazia may well have some competition coming up through the ranks to rival her.. as if still getting confused with Shappi Khorsandi wasn’t enough to drive her around the bend..
Ribald beyond compare
The night, organised in partnership with PAWA (Pan Asian Women’s Association) was intended to challenge outdated attitudes and stereotypes still surrounding Asian women. Lynne Parker acknowledges that comedy has traditionally been the “bastion of the white middle-classes” and is determined to insert more women – and racial diversity – into the circuit.
Sajeela – a “rising star”
Any preconceptions of Asian women as submissive or compliant were quickly blown to smithereens by – no, not a suicide bomber but – our wonderfully engaging compere Sajeela Kershi who quickly won the warmth and love of the audience, to the extent that no one was batting an eyelid when she mused on how much more sartorially interesting burkas would be in leather, with your own ‘infidel gimp’ to whip.
Great new talent in the competition
Excellent performances from our guests Joanne Lau, Dil and Ishi Khan-Jackson with some great lines proving that there is still material to be mined from highlighting some of these stereotypes – Joanne Lau’s reply to being asked whether she’d ever kissed a white man: “No, but I did once pee on his face and shove carrots up his ass.” One of my other favourite lines of the night from Shazia.. “By the time I’m 40 I might even get fingered. And it will be arranged.”
As well as delighting the crowd Shazia also took away an Asian Women of Achievement Award, ‘conceived to celebrate the often unsung heroines of Asian life’, who flourish in the arts, management of the arts and creative writing.
Shazia said this was particularly important for her as it reflected acceptance within her community, something, she wryly observed, and her comedy act reflects, ‘I don’t experience very often’.
