Nazeem is witty, cutting and confronting.
Head along to his show to be educated on how other Australians might experience our country, and have a (sometimes nervous) laugh at the same time.
Nazeem was looking forward to coming to Brisbane. Not for the weather, or Southbank, or the laid-back worldview, Nazeem was looking forward to meeting one Pauline Hanson. Sadly for him, she didn’t show up to his Powerhouse gig, even though he’d left her a free ticket at the door.
The Pauline jokes set the tone for the first half of the show. It is confronting: Queensland’s reputation as a redneck state doesn’t seem to have diminished at all and Nazeem doesn’t let the audience escape or feel good about any privileged lefty credentials. For example, when the audience laughs at a joke about Queenslanders, Nazeem is quick to point out that just because we’re in New Farm doesn’t make us any better than any other Queenslander. Race, and Australia’s relationship with it or blindness to its impact on our behaviour, is the main thread of the show’s first half.
It is extremely effective and powerful. A bit like watching an episode of the British version of 'The Office', except white Australia and our omnipresence in Australian culture and self-perception are the butt of all the jokes. It’s uncomfortable, but in a clever way. And Nazeem’s confidence and obvious good humour ensure the show doesn’t come across as bitter or cruel. From some of the stories he has to tell, however, no one could blame him if it did.
The second part of the show focused more on his travels, and specifically travels while brown and Muslim. Laughing at the US and their immigration service took the spotlight off Australia’s own failings, and fish out of water tales of returning to the ‘Motherland’ when one is the child of immigrants struck a chord with many audience members. It was more of a typical observational comedy show.
While the show wasn’t filled with hysterical laughter, it was insanely clever, insightful and funny. Very much worth checking out, this show was a particular highlight of the festival.
Nazeem Hussain Dates
24 March – Canberra Theatre Centre (Canberra Comedy Festival)29 March-22 April – Forum Melbourne (Melbourne Comedy Festival)
5 May – Regal Theatre (Perth Comedy Festival)
12 May – Enmore Theatre (Sydney Comedy Festival)
