Montreux Comedy returns to UAE: What’s in store

Knock knock; it’s joke time. With a long line-up of comical routines, the Montreux Comedy @ UAE Gala is up to funny business over the weekend. Just be warned that for the first two evenings of the event; kicking off on Wednesday; the jokes are dispensed entirely in French. The Trending Comics International Gala, on Friday, brings comedy in English.

Ahead of their shows on day number three, we asked Provenzano, Kugblenu and de Carlo what’s making them laugh these days (for one, it was a washing machine).

Provenzano, who has more than 100,000 followers on social media, is presenting his first show in the UAE, titled Alone In My Head.

What can Dubai expect from your set?

Well, Dubai is a big city, so I don’t know if the whole city is going to expect something from me! I can say that the audience who are coming to the show can expect some laughs and some tips on how to speak every language I know.

What is making you laugh these days?
I’m very generous with my laughter! I always tend to see the funny side of life. If I had to name one comedian that makes me laugh, it is [American comedian] Sebastian Maniscalco. I admire this man and he never fails to make me laugh.

How would you describe your sense of humour in four words?
I describe it as light, young, naive and funny (well, I hope it is!).

What is the role of comedy is today’s world?
I guess comedy has two distinguished roles. The first one is to entertain. I think it’s essential to comedy, if it is not entertaining, it is not comedy! The second role of comedy is to be thought-provoking. Jokes are the best way to convey a message, an opinion, an idea to an audience and I think that, behind every substantial joke, there is a hidden message.

What’s next for you?
I need to go to the grocery store because I ran out of toothpaste!

ATHENA KUGBLENU

In 2017, Kugblenu was not only a nominee for the 99 Club Female Comedians’ Bursary, she also performed at the Johannesburg international Comedy Festival. When she’s not cracking people up, she doubles up as a writer for various BBC branches and features in the Kitchen Table podcast.

What can Dubai expect from your set?
Laughs! I make observational political jokes about sometimes serious subjects but I think everyone can relate to them, whilst having a laugh at how strange the world can be.

What is making you laugh these days?
Everything that’s happening in America right now. And Brexit.

How would you describe your sense of humour in four words?
Fun, sharp, satirical, thoughtful...

What is the role of comedy is today’s world?
James Baldwin said artists should aspire to ‘Recreate out of the disorder that is life, the order that is art’. Comedy is definitely needed to make sense of today’s chaos.

What’s next for you?
Building up to my second hour at Edinburgh Comedy Festival!

The Italian funnyman, radio host and TV writer from Rome, Francesco is the winner of a number of awards including the Festival di Cabaret di Grottammare and the Talenti Comici, and his TV appearances have included four series of Stand Up Comedy and three series of Comedy Central News on Comedy Central Italia.

Besides, he has also signed up for a new show this autumn called Rai Tre (the Italian national broadcaster), a four-episode series about an Italian comedian — much like him — in London during Brexit.

What can Dubai expect from your set?
A lot of silliness with an Italian accent!

What is making you laugh these days?
My washing machine. It is very old and it makes weird noises.

How would you describe your sense of humour in four words?
This is a very personal question! I’m blushing!

What is the role of comedy in today’s world?
It’s a very effective way of reminding people not to take life too seriously!

What’s next for you?
I’m going to buy a new washing machine!

Emmy-nominated comedian Tats Nkonzo likes to blend music and comedy. He has written for and featured in Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola and is the host of SA’s Got Talent. Internationally, Tats won the Montreux International Comedy Contest in 2014 and brought his routine, The African with Wifi, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015. Now he’s ready to doll out some laughs in Dubai.

What can Dubai expect from your set?
Fun. We are going to have fun with people from all over the world. Can’t wait.

What is making you laugh these days?
Memes. There’s no comedian in the world funnier than a meme.

How would you describe your sense of humour in four words?
It’s silly and serious.

What is the role of comedy is today’s world?
To make people laugh while changing their minds. Like Yoda in a clown suit.

What’s next for you?
I want to start making the world laugh. So performing outside South Africa is my next adventure.

Don’t miss it

Tickets to Montreux Comedy @ UAE start at Dh150 and are available online.