Another top comedy bill is currently touring the emirates, courtesy of those funny folk over at The Laughter Factory.
We caught the second night, at Dubai’s Movenpick JBR on Thursday (July 14), where Sean Collins closed out in phenomenal style.
The Canadian stand-up star – whose screen credits include Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow – was naturally at home on this smaller stage. Cool and collected, Collins presided over a lovably raw set, heavy on improv and interaction – and seemingly as amused as anyone to even be there. It’s this steadfast charm which make even his most familiar material fresh on the lips.
Earlier, things opened up with London comic Ola, whose tried and tested autobiographical set charts his duel quests for both love, and to be the “greatest comedian in the world”. There’s a pepper of surrealism – his best routine may be one comparing adoption to colonialism.
Sandwiched in the difficult middle slot was fellow Brit Michael Fabbri, whose overabundance of material and assured, self-depreciating delivery threatened to upstage either of his cohorts. Recently launching a BBC radio show Dyslexicon – about growing up with dyslexia – this coming-of-age material zinged with freshness of a true pro.
The emirates’s entertainment options might be a little quiet right now, but The Laughter Factory is easily among the best nights out in town – catch this tour’s three remaining Dubai dates before it’s too late.
• The Laughter Factory is at McGettigan's JLT on Wednesday July 20 (8pm), Grand Millennium TECOM on Thursday July 21 and The Gramercy, DIFC on Friday July 22 (both 9pm). Tickets from Dh140. See thelaughterfactory.com.
rgarratt@thenational.ae
