Line-up performing for ‘your people’

It’s a Sydney Comedy Festival must-see with the best and brightest of our local Jewish comedians, including Ben Kochan, Jess Fuchs, Thalia-Joan and Robyn Reynolds (UK).

Crowd-favourite Michael Shafar will be hosting the line-up, which will be headlined by award-winning comedian Alice Fraser. Once again, the Jewish Comedy Showcase is not to be missed.

A RAW national finalist, Shafar has more than 10 million views on TikTok. He has appeared on ABC’s Comedy Bites, Triple J, and regularly writes for The Project. His darkly funny humour, drawing from his own experience with testicular cancer, has made him a hit on the festival circuit.

Fraser will be delighting audiences with her intelligence and sharp wit. Her sold-out solo shows have been commissioned as podcasts and TV specials on Amazon Prime, NextUp and the ABC.

Kochan has previously supported Tom Gleeson and Wil Anderson. Thalia-Joan has had sold-out runs of her solo show at Sydney Comedy Festival.

Reynolds’ relatable anecdotes have made her a favourite in the local Jewish community and you may have seen one of Fuchs’ hilarious viral TikToks or spotted her on a bus stop ad for M&M’s Comedy Spotlight campaign.

Fuchs told The AJN that she’s incredibly excited to be involved in the Showcase.

“There’s honestly so few Jewish comedians so whenever you get to see everyone in the same room, it’s like going to synagogue but with a microphone for us, which is great,” she laughed. She is especially proud to be performing alongside fellow female comedians. “To have more than one on this show is really exciting,” Fuchs confirmed.

Fuchs describes her show as “a female comedian being very powerful and not holding back in being decisive; not doubting herself and not being self-deprecating,” she explained. “It’s full power, full force and just really encouraging people, by I guess leading by example, to embrace whatever the version of their self is that they always thought they needed to change.

“The coolest part about you is probably the part you where you perceive that the grass is greener, that you should be that kind of person. But really, the power is like, the person you’ve been trying to change.”

Fuchs also admits that it’s exhilarating to perform to “your people”.

“I don’t have to go out of my way to explain things, and I can reference things,” she said. “I get to use the word ‘synagogue’ and not have to explain that ‘that’s our version of Church’.”

The Jewish Comedy Showcase is on Wednesday May 3 at the Comedy Store.

All of the comedians will also be featuring in their own stand-up shows. Head to sydneycomedyfest.com.au for more.