Stand-up fans rejoice: another group of top comedians is arriving in the UAE to make you fall of your chair laughing

TWO BRITS AND a Canadian walk onto a plane.

No, it’s not the start of an elaborate joke. The trio consist of charming observational comic Roger Monkhouse, controversial loudmouth Gavin Webster and Nova Scotia native Jason Whitehead, who has been compared to both Ozzy Osbourne and a South Park character.

They arrive in Dubai today to embark upon comedy promoter The Laughter Factory’s November tour, beginning tonight at Jambase in the Madinat.

City Times spoke to Roger ‘no relation to Bob’ Monkhouse, a Dubai veteran since first visiting the emirate on tour a decade ago, who insists that expat audiences are “delightful”.

Has your on-stage routine adapted over the years in any way?

Hopefully! It’s always a work in progress, if it ever ceases to be I think it’ll be time to quit. It changes according to the news, because I’m vaguely topical, and it changes according to the audience in front of you. I’ll be rethinking my whole set on the flight out so I can tailor it to an international audience. And my set adapts as I grow up — it’s very different now to what it was 10 or 15 years ago.

You’ve got an 18-month old daughter. Does she provide you with much material?

Amelia provides me with a fair bit, but I don’t base everything on her because it would be fairly dull for people who aren’t blessed as parents. Ultimately, you have to make it universal.

What are audiences like at the moment — is everyone suffering from credit crunch blues?

I think people are going out more, to be honest. Comedy seems to have thrived in the credit crunch. Everyone in the industry has been paranoid and looking for the first sign of the bubble collapsing, but in fact the opposite seems to be the case. It’s an old axiom that comedy does well in recessions, and certainly this time round the bars and clubs are all full. Maybe people are giving up their weekends in Barcelona rather than their nights out on the tiles!

What are your top tips for bringing a tough audience onto your side?

Haha! Good jokes and, if necessary, pick on someone!

What’s tickling your funny bone at the moment?

Well over here, we’re witnessing the collapse of an unpopular government. Anything that’s transparently corrupt is always entertaining, as are people’s attitudes towards the recession.

Given that you’re from the suburbs of London, what made you decide to settle in the northern English city of Sheffield?

It’s a geographical coincidence more than anything else. I’m just walking around the supermarket now actually, but I just ended up here through inertia. Originally I went here for college, and I just stayed.

You must have a lot of time to yourself while travelling — are you comfortable in your own company?

I’m very happy with my own company, and I’m an increasingly misanthropic individual. I’m happy to sit by myself and read a newspaper or a book.

And do you tend to hang out with the other comedians when you go on tour together?

Goodness no — they’re all awful!

Tour Schedule:

What: The Laughter Factory

Where: Jambase, Madinat Jumeirah Dubai

When: Wednesday, November 4

Contact: 04-3666730

Where: Player’s Lounge, The Country Club, Dubai

When: Thursday, November 5

Contact: 04-8852222

Where: Rainbow Room, The Aviation Club, Dubai

When: Friday, November 6

Contact: 04-2824122

Where: Crowne Plaza, Abu Dhabi

When: Tuesday, November 10

Contact: 02-6210000

Where: Zinc, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai

When: Wednesday, November 11

Contact: 04-3311111

Where: Courtyard by Marriott, Green Community, Dubai

When: Thursday, November 12

Contact: 04-3988840

Tickets are available for Dhs115 from the venues, Time Out Ticketline 800 4669 and www.itptickets.comShows start at 9pm. For more information, visit www.thelaughterfactory.com

adam@khaleejtimes.com