New initiative from London's Brown Sauce

London’s South Asian comedy club Brown Sauce has announced the eight emerging comedians selected for its first Comedy Lab project

The chosen acts will take part in a free one-day workshop on October 18, culminating in a showcase gig headlined by Ahir Shah.

The cohort are:

1. Iman Ahmedani: A Pakistani Muslim comedian and psychiatry doctor, Iman blends observational and anecdotal humour. Having performed across open mics and created comedy sketches, Iman’s comedic aspirations include exploring mental health through a minority lens.
2. Qasim Akhtar: Qasim has been performing stand-up for nearly a year and is already making waves, winning the 2023 Beat the Frog Panel Prize. With regular gigs in the North West, Qasim is honing his craft and preparing to create impactful comedy shows.
3. Jas Bahia: A former journalist and court reporter from Derby, Jas has turned his passion for writing into a comedy career. His comedic accolades include being shortlisted for the Felix Dexter and David Nobbs awards, and his sharp humour has led him to the stand-up stage.
4. Nusrath Tapadar: A queer, Bengali Muslim actor, writer, and comedian, Nusrath made her comedic debut with her one-woman show, Hijabi to Hoejabi to Nojabi. Having written for ITV X and Clapperboard Studios, she is eager to return to stand-up comedy.
5. Dipak Patel: A former filmmaker with over 30 million TikTok views, Dipak’s comedy is infused with his life experiences as a father and creative. After a stint at BBC Comedy, Dipak turned to open mic comedy and is loving every minute of it.
6. Paras Patel: A deadpan musical comedian, Paras mixes personal stories of growing up Indian in the UK with guitar performances, recently making it to the SYTYF competition finals.
7. Joeravar Sangha:  Joeravar is a newcomer to stand-up, having completed a course at Crack Comedy earlier this year. As an actor, Joeravar plans to combine his stand-up with his acting career and eventually create comedy TV shows for the South Asian community.
8. Stuti Johri: With a love for writing and performing, Stuti is an emerging talent with just 10 gigs under her belt, working toward her dream of creating a comedy show that leaves audiences lighter.

The workshop will be led by Sharlin Jahan, founder of Brown Sauce, and comedian Saima Ferdow. In a joint statement they said: ‘We received so many strong applications, and we’re beyond excited to work with these emerging comedic talents. Bringing them together, helping them grow, and giving them the chance to perform in a safe and inclusive space is just the beginning. We’re building a comedy community that will thrive.’

The gig takes place at the Tara Theatre, the project’s partner venue, and tickets are available here.

Published: 4 Oct 2024