Making headway to big comedy clubs’ paid spots within two years of arriving in the UK, Blank got into almost all the major Comedy New Act Competition finals and collected gong show wins like a dedicated Pokemon player collecting the Poke gym badges.

“Blank is an incognito bilingual stand-up comic,” so goes her comedy profile on some of London’s top comedy clubs’ websites. It is not by accident she’s named Blank; it’s a deliberate choice of a stage name to keep her quite literally incognito - for understand reasons, given part of Blank’s stand up incudes commentary on her native China. Your host to this day does not know her full real name in Mandarin.

Blank shares a more nuanced picture of her home country’s censorship on the burgeoning stand up comedy scene, how comedians work with the script pre-approval compliance requirements and her more obscure province’s scene allows more leeway.

Having started performing stand up comedy in Mandarin first (and already doing very well), Blank is one of the fewer guests of this podcast who did not start performing in English. Instead, she had to transition into an English stand up comedy performer. She talks about why her Mandarin and English jokes are separate and why she is happy to stick to just English stand up comedy in the UK, despite the growing number of Chinese students and immigrants.

---------------------------------

Follow Blank on Instagram

Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram

---------------------------------

If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

---------------------------------

00:57 Bonus episode in Mandarin

01:25 Intro

02:24 A Chinese national considered having a Taiwanese accent?

04:00 More British than American influences

05:31 Unsolicited feedback on her accent from audience members

06:12 Mandarin stand up comedy performer before English stand up

08:34 Coming from a “third-rate” Chinese city

10:54 Comedy New Act Competitions and Gong Shows

13:40 Comedy censorship in China

22:12 Turning into a more unique performer in the UK

23:17 Separate comedy materials between Mandarin and English stand up

24:56 Blank’s stage persona in Mandarin stand up

26:29 Ethnic minority comedy performers and hack jakes

31:05 Blank’s racially self-deprecating jokes and the principle of fairness

32:20 No longer performing Mandarin stand up in the UK

35:51 Why “Blank”?

36:40 Why “Blank404” for Instagram>

--------------------------------

Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Describing her accent as “a beautiful mess”, comedian Micky Overman’s show “The Recipe” was amongst the best reviewed shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023. The excellent show is now free for viewing on Micky’s Youtube channel and forms the basis of this interview.

Micky has one of those accents of a proficient non-native English speaker that not everyone can work out what her mother tongue is. Despite this, unsolicited advice still found its way to Micky, that she should play up her foreignness and even present herself as a Dutch cliché on stage.

Except it is clear to Micky she does comedy for herself and wants to be herself performing comedy rather than a caricature. Micky was fed up with notion that a person could be largely definite merely by their nationality, she even wrote a show to mock this idea in 2018.

But Micky’s latest critically acclaimed show does quite the opposite. “The Precipice” has little to do with her being Dutch. It has to do with her thinking about mental health, motherhood amongst other subjects that most other millennials would be wondering. The writing is sharp; the humour is universal.

Watch Micky’s show “The Precipice”

---------------------------------

Follow Micky on Instagram

Micky will perform at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2024 with a new show “Hold On”. July 30th to Aug 25th (no Aug 13th) daily at Monkey Barrel The Tron at 5:50. For Tickets, click here.

Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram

---------------------------------

If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

---------------------------------

00:43 First Impression of Micky’s accent

02:19 Intro

05:35 Everyone interprets Micky’s accent differently

07:40 Micky’s accent shifts based on the people she talks to

08:35 Micky’s opting for British pronunciation in her comedy sets for jokes to land

10:38 Deliberately mispronouncing words to make them funnier

12:55 Why would someone pretend to be Dutch? On national stereotypes

15:55 Foreign comedians SHOULD use their “otherness”?

21:11 Practicing not to over-introduce herself in the 2023 show

25:07 Micky in English not having the same perceptions by others when speaking Dutch

26:38 Micky’s critically acclaimed 2023 show “Precipice”: her worldview through how the jokes were structured

28:22 Micky’d turns of phrase

30:48 Show not tell; trust your audience and do not talk them down

33:23 Comedy writing as music

34:02 Enjoying being dumb, not taking herself too seriously

35:36 Micky performed in a deadpan style at the very beginning

37:14 Micky’s 2023 show Precipice on Youtube

37:25 Micky at Edinburgh Fringe in 2024

--------------------------------

Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Guido Garcia Lueches is a theatre maker, actor from Uruguay. His one man show “Playing Latinx” - though categorised as Theatre rather than Comedy in last year’s Edinburgh Fringe - packed in so many jokes that it was probably funnier than many shows under “Comedy” had to offer.

To be fair, the show was also marketed as “Half stand up”, but to its creator, genre is not something he’d bother. It’s whether the audience gets his intent that counts.

The show weaves in multiple Latino stereotypes and is first and foremast silly. But beneath the silliness and stupidity lies a message that is mostly definitely political in nature. The show was based on all the audition experiences Guido had to endure over the years. All the exaggerated characters were roles Guido were asked to perform as and if he is lucky, typecast in.

When Guido speaks in English without too heavy a Spanish influence, he was instructed to “just do your accent” even though he was speaking with his accent. Then he realised what the casting directors were after, dialled up his Spanish tongue, got one Mexican drug lord role after another one of a sexy pool cleaner.

---------------------------------

Follow Guido on Instagram

Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram

---------------------------------

If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

---------------------------------

00:41 Intro

02:26 Kuan-wen’s poor knowledge about Uruguay

05:04 Guido’s accent in English that he is not sure how to describe

07:13 Wrong prepositions gives Guido away

08:40 The standout characteristic of Guido’s accent

10:50 Facing questions about his accents from British people

13:06 Singer, Actor, Comedian and Dramaturg

14:51 Guido’s show “Playing LatinX”

16:30 Idea of the show coming from bad audition experiences

19:36 Different accents featured and changed in the show

22:40 “Could you just do your accent?”

24:09 The industry’s attitude towards a needed foreign accent

27:30 In a perfect world, how would people know a small country without stereotypes?

30:16 Why humour is crucial to Guido’s show design

34:15 What if the audience doesn’t get the irony? What if the jokes reinforce the stereotypes instead?

37:41 Silliness and drama; theatre in the UK as observed by Guido

43:36 Why Latin”X” ?

--------------------------------

Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

In Philipp’s comedy set, he likes to open with “Hi, my name is Philipp. I come from Austria, America and Slovenia.” In real life, sometimes Austrians do not see him as Austrians (He left Austria at the age of four), Slovenians may not seen him as Slovenians, Americans might find something a bit off about him. Those Americans not familiar with an English accent might even think his accent is English.

A breakout star turned a regular at many best known comedy clubs across the UK, including The Comedy Store and Top Secret Comedy Club, Philipp could be mistaken as another American act who moved across the pond, whereas he in fact grew up in Slovenia but went to an international school and studied in English. It is only after he became an adult he is catching up with his Slovenian fluency with the help of a private tutor, motivated by a bit of regret.

Philipp shares how he feels not being tethered to one specific place and your host Kuan-wen describes him as an American born out of Europe. He talks about his belief in an international approach to his comedy, based on his own experience of feeling alienated at a comedy show in Edinburgh Fringe. He also talks about finally feeling at ease with himself, embracing the goofiness and silliness and becoming a better performer as a result.

---------------------------------

Follow Philipp on Instagram and his website

You can order Philipp's Comedy Special on line

Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram

---------------------------------

If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

---------------------------------

00:48 Intro

05:23 Why Philipp was not invited to appear on Season One of the Podcast

08:56 Americans who treat family heritage as ethnicity

09:33 Growing up in Slovenia speaking English and German only (no Slovenian)

15:30 Where’s home? No where is Philipp tethered to

24:14 When did Philipp drop his middle name on stage?

26:18 An international approach to stand up comedy, not making any audience member alienated

29:05 How Philipps has changed as a performer since 2018

34:02 Producing student radio show at Royal Holloway University

37:37 Being comfortable with one’s true self

42:55 How to deal with the sense of not belonging anywhere

44:26 Philipp’s social media

--------------------------------

Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Best known as the mischievous private investigator on Channel; 4's Joe Lycett's Got Your Back, Mark Silcox is an accomplishment stand up comedian in his own right, even though he claims not to be a very ambitious comedian himself. For comedy "is just a way of spending time with friends"

Apologies for the delay in publishing this week's episode

Mark's distinct deadpan and at times anti=comedy style makes him many comedians' comedian.

Mark talks about not being listened to or taken seriously by students in his semi-retired day job as a supply teacher, also the only immigrant in his own family - after thirty years, he still feels fresh off the boat. Both push him to grab the microphone on stage so that he feels listened out.

In the last six minutes of this episode, we dive into Mark's childhood as a middle child with eight siblings. We then learn why this trained scientist and teacher is catching up on the fun he could have had and should have had but missed from the distant childhood.

Mark Silcox's really name is not Mark Silcox. The initials are AA. If you want to find out, you got to listen to this episode.

---------------------------------

Follow Mark on Instagram, and Twitter

If you are going to Edinburgh Fringe this year, Mark will bring his show "Women Only" for the first two weeks of the Fringe this year (Aug 3 - 18) at PBH - Voodoo Room at 2pm. See info here.

Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram

---------------------------------

If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

---------------------------------

00:47 Intro

04:02 Not just an Indian accent - Mark’s unique way of speaking

07:10 A supply teacher that students do not listen to

08:20 Mocked by students but refusing to change his accent

12:26 In the world of comedy, Mark’s accent is his USP

14:24 Mark’s distinct style performing stand up

16:21 Opening line to address the accent

18:12 Private Investigator on Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back

20:15 Not relying on facial expressions

23:27 First gen v second gen immigrants

28:26 Comedy just a hobby to speak time with friends

30:34 Comedy offers freedom of expression (and the chance to wind somebody up)

33:45 Inventing a new identity

37:13 Childhood experience

42:18 Upcoming 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Show

--------------------------------

Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Alice Frick is a comedian, writer, producer originally from Vienna, Austria, who is also the show runner of "Laughing Labia", an all-female line up comedy show and one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ comedy show in London with a loyal following.

Alice talks about the articulation lessons she has been having and how her English went from American-sounding to more obviously German when she decided to switch to British pronunciation. We also learn why Alice is happy to go with the Alpine Milk Maid stereotype and why certain stereotypes about Austria seem to be based on an element of truth.

This episodes concludes on The Anti Self Help Book written and published by Alice, a body of work that mocks the self help book genre (as pointed out by Alice, there's no regulation in publishing a self-help book) while gathers Alice's otherworldly thoughts, jokes and anecdotes.

---------------------------------

Alice's Anti Self Help book can be found on Amazon (Kindle version/Paperback)

Follow Alice on Instagram and Youtube

Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram

---------------------------------

If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

---------------------------------

00:45 Intro and some German grammar chat

02:27 A comedy show in German in London

04:43 An Austrian having a dig at Germans

07:42 Two immigrants complain about the English greeting “How are you?”

11:45 Alice’s Articulation lesson

17:56 Some tongue twisters

18:26 Accents and actor casting

24:17 Laughing Labia - an all Female line up comedy show

29:06 Unsolicited feedback from fellow Male comedian

33:57 A stronger accent on stage

40:34 Alice's more subtle humour outside the "milk maid" character - The Anti Self Help Book

--------------------------------

Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Comedy powerhouse Arielle Souma is the very first French guest on this podcast after more than thirty episodes (FINALLY!). Unapologetic, unfiltered and oozing “I don’t give a f**k” energy, Arielle is known for her commanding stage presence and her punchy, intense and impactful comedy delivery. Arielle talks about keeping her English simple and accessible, thus easier to understand for non-native English speakers in the audience. Also, some of those long words are just too pompous for her liking.

Arielle also talks about how English works better for her rhythms as a language than her native French. The cheeky French comic claims it makes sense to pronounce various words à la française, since that’s the origin of those English words. Unless it’s words like paedophilia that requires a bit of phonetic precision.

As a mixed-race black woman raised by a white French family, Arielle talks about her hilarious over-compensating “trying to be more black than black” phase in the past. Surprisingly, the UK black comedy circuit does not particularly welcome her with open arms, just because her blackness does not fit in the several archetypes. She may be too confusing to tick a box for the industry and too saucy for the mainstream media, but if you are a London comedy club regulars, chances are you will get blown away when Arielle rocks up at the show.

---------------------------------

Follow Arielle on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram

---------------------------------

If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

---------------------------------

01:08 Pre-recording chat (trashing Ivorians and Nigerians)

03:07 Intro

04:43 Unfiltered and blunt

05:54 A French accent and using it

09:49 Arielle prefers her name pronounced in English

10:30 Opening a comedy set by addressing the French accent

11:29 An African identity in addition to the French identity

12:45 A black girl raised by a white family

16:11 How Arielle raised her son to be proud of the colour of his skin

17:03 Pros and cons of a French speaker learning English

18:26 What kind of English pronunciation does a non-native speaker pursue?

20:12 An example where Arielle had to correct her pronunciation to ensure the audience understand her

22:09 Keeping the words used simple

25:04 A boxing-like comedy rhythm

27:13 On swearing

31:21 Racism in France v.s. in the UK

39:06 Being othered on the black comedy circuit in the UK

42:36 Too spicy for mainstream media?

46:14 Running a French comedy show in London

48:58 Arielle’s social media

--------------------------------

Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Gino Christofaro is the podcast’s first guest whose home city is not indicated in the episode title. He simply cannot name one.

Being an embassy kid, Gino never had a childhood home like many of us do.

Gino has been featured on Comedy Central Germany’s Roast Battle and is a now TV writer in both English and German for Comedy Central, ZDF, Paramount+ and Amazon.

Born in São Paolo, Brazil, Gino was brought “back” to Bonn, Germany then moved with his parents to Saudi Arabia, Argentina…. just to name a few. Not in once place has Gino stayed for more than three years. He had one year to make good friends, another year to enjoy the friendships only to lose those friends later. Now Berlin-based, Gino identifies more with New York that dominated his childhood TV and where he started performing (but he is not even an American to call NYC home).

A running gag in this interview is how Gino pays so much attention to his hairs, which your host mocks as a “First World Problem”. But the hair issue runs deep and reflects the childhood anxiety of a constant outsider always trying to fit in a new environment. The “embassy kid” journey forged Gino’s unique cadence in his mother tongue and influenced his approach to stand up comedy and to the audience.

---------------------------------

Gino is going on tour in April! Check out Gino’s shows here

Follow Gino on Instagram

Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter

---------------------------------

If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

---------------------------------

00:42 Intro

02:16 What is his name “Gino” short for?

03:11 A German Brazilian (of Italian descent)

05:54 A New York English accent and a “weird” German accent

08:13 Gino’s hair issues (one key theme throughout the interview)

10:18 On Gino’s Jersey/New York accent again

10:52 A little rant on Little Italy, Italian New Yorkers, Albanians

14:25 Why Gino was constantly during his childhood

16:15 On Gino’s hair issues again

18:57 Where does Gino consider to be home? Berlin or New York?

20:17 An identity-less guy, a German perceived to be faking American

22:31 Identity-less or little traits of all different places?

26:06 How much does Gino have to explain his identity at the start of his comedy set?

28:26 Gino’s German-ness questioned

29:27 A comedian’s attire and audience’s expectation

32:03 From anxious comic to not caring about what people think

39:20 Sadness and depression and how it’s reflected in his comedy (and social media)

45:23 The German (language) comedy scene

47:21 What Gino represents as an English comedy performer

52:27 Does liberal Berlin give Gino a false sense of comfort?

54:20 Gino’s social media

--------------------------------

Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe