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Shappi Khorsandi
Shappi Khorsandi is an Iranian standup comedienne, who has established herself on the London circuit and is fast becoming one of the UK’s best known females - on the brink of household-name fame.
She began working as a comedienne in 1997, and made her first appearance in Edinburgh in 2000, making her solo debut in 2003.
A finalist in the BBC new comedy awards in 2000, her career has rocketed and her TV appearances include; Live at the Apollo, Friday Night with Jonathon Ross, 8 out of 10 Cats and Have I got news for you.
The daughter of an exiled writer and comic from Iran, Shappi uses stand up to talk of her upbringing, which has been in no way conventional. Born in the Tehran, her family fled Iran after her father, a writer, criticized the leader.
“I was a refugee in the 80’s, long before it became fashionable.”
Despite leaving the Tehran for London, her family were still not safe. Chased by assassins, her family were forced into hiding. With a fascinating story to tell, her life leads the way for an engaging and intelligent act.
“The Iranian regime strongly advocates free speech, but there is no freedom after you’ve spoken”
Her Iranian upbringing is the focus point of her act. Touchingly honest about the issues which affected her childhood in West London, she tells stories from with warmth and hilarity.
“I tried to live a normal life - seeing friends, going to school, checking under the car for bombs. I didn’t write letters to Jim’ll Fix It, I wrote them to Ayatollah Khomeini asking him not to kill my father”
Her stand up routine is deceptive. She has a flirty and feisty stage presence, a sweet and innocent personality but with punch lines that are told with razor sharp wit.
Shappi both sugar coats and exposes issues that other comics would struggle to discuss. With natural charm, she has a way of making light of the most serious issues.
Events in Iran in recent years have seen her portrayed as a ‘political comedienne’. However her routine is bubbly and fun and she talks of balancing her work tour and being a single mum. She speaks openly about relationships, and how dating has changed drastically since the last time she was single.
“When your 22 and want to pull you just get drunk and fall on someone, but at 36 that’s looked down on, especially in playgroup.”
Her son Cassius, is often a talking point in her act. Shappi recalls the day he was born and the nurses suggesting he was mixed race.
“The only time one can truly use that phrase, is when referring to mermaids. You know somewhere in your family history, someone got drunk on a beach”
Her act is delivered with a charming middle class ‘niceness’ and rather ‘posh’ accent. In a relaxed style, Shappi mocks her culture with the same tone that she mocks the English.
Multiculturalism, childhood, motherhood, marriage and divorce make up her act and Shappi is wittiest and most heart warming when she blends the topics.
Her book, ‘A beginners guide to acting English’ is about growing up in the seventies in London. It was published last summer and can be purchased at Amazon.
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