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Popular Bahraini stand-up artist Imran Al Aradi takes comedy quite seriously. His performance arts platform Sometimes Funny just celebrated its first anniversary, and he’s already making plans to establish Bahrain as a comedy base in the region.
The initiative, originally launched as a stage for comedians in the kingdom, has evolved into a launch pad for comedy careers, with plans to make it a broader, dedicated public speaking platform underway.
“It (Sometimes Funny) started with an open mic night format and has now become the go-to platform for anyone who wants to start their stand-up comedy journey,” the 43-year-old told Gulf Weekly. “It also created a great atmosphere for stand-up fans, giving them the opportunity to enjoy relatable local comedy.”
Imran partnered with the InterContinental Bahrain to establish Sometimes Funny in May last year, just three months after he quit his full-time job as a radio jockey, in a quest for bigger challenges. The platform was so named to set expectations with the audience, stressing on the difference between a lineup of experienced comedians and open mic nights – ‘Sometimes’ Funny. It hosts monthly sessions where stand-up artists in Bahrain, including Imran perform, in the process, testing their material, which is an ‘important part of a comedian’s growth and development’.
“There are two main challenges local comedians face, firstly, there are no opportunities to test raw material, this is an important part of a comedian’s growth and development, and secondly, we need time to develop a comedy culture in the kingdom, that includes growth in the number of experienced home-grown local talents, audience awareness on how comedy material is developed through trial and error, and a support infrastructure for local talents. Sometimes Funny’s main objective is to be dedicated to tackling these challenges,” the Juffair resident explained.
Imran has observed a consistently growing public interest in comedy shows in Bahrain over the years especially with the gigs hosted under Sometimes Funny, which he believes is ‘the biggest advantage’ for those working to establish the kingdom as a comedy base in the region.
“There has always been a comedy scene in Bahrain. I’ve also noticed that more regional comedians are being scheduled to perform, which gives people in the kingdom options to watch local, regional, and international acts without having to leave the country,” he added.
Imran made his first appearance as a stand-up comedian in 2008, hosting the Axis of Evil comedy show, featuring international stand-up artists like Maz Jobrani and Ahmed Ahmed. Since then, he hasn’t looked back. He went on to host local open mic nights and perform all over the Gulf region and India, and the rest, as they say, is history. However, his tryst with jokes began while he was still at school.
“I was bullied and used humour as a self defence mechanism, that’s when I realised the power of words and how effective it can be,” he noted.
Imran had the last laugh indeed. The creative is already working on a solid plan for his platform for the coming months.
“Sometimes Funny is set to host regional artists soon, and mentor and coach local comedians, providing them with opportunities to perform in the region.
“Eventually, I want to make it a dedicated public speaking platform, which will include open mic nights, stand-up comedy shows, auditions, improv, comedy writing and stage presence workshops, in addition to hosting international talents,” he added.
Follow Imran’s amusing journey @imrancomedy on Instagram.
