A troupe of improv comedians travel through occupied Palestine in an attempt to bring joy to and find common ground with their audiences. Showing the realities of a country long occupied and a people who still try to thrive in the face of this, the members of the Palestine Comedy Club prove that resilience can always be found through humour. 

“…the feature skilfully weaves together light-hearted, laughter-filled scenes and deeply emotional moments, creating a powerful experience that feels like an emotional rollercoaster.”

– Veronica Orciari via CinEuropa

Palestine Comedy Club screening and Q&A with Alaa Shehada, Hanna Shammas, Diana Sweity, Sam Beale and Charlotte Knowles.

Pleasance at EICC
Pentland Theatre

Palestine Comedy Club official selection at Raindance Film Festival.

Fuelled by the differences of Palestinian identity, rights and heritage, six comedians stage a comedy show together telling of what sets them apart, never forgetting the ways they’ve come together like a tapestry and realities faced by all Palestinians. Named after the stand up comedy initiative Palestine Comedy Club which works as part training school, part comedy troupe touring across the West Bank. Whether from Ramallah, Nablus, Haifa, Nazareth, Jerusalem or Jenin the comedian’s come together to make the audience laugh through segregation and occupation. When their tour is taken internationally they face being stranded in London, and an escalation of the genocide in their homes spurs them on as they showcase the Palestinian people’s sense of humour even in the darkest of times.

Palestine Comedy Club official selection at Raindance Film Festival.

Fuelled by the differences of Palestinian identity, rights and heritage, six comedians stage a comedy show together telling of what sets them apart, never forgetting the ways they’ve come together like a tapestry and realities faced by all Palestinians. Named after the stand up comedy initiative Palestine Comedy Club which works as part training school, part comedy troupe touring across the West Bank. Whether from Ramallah, Nablus, Haifa, Nazareth, Jerusalem or Jenin the comedian’s come together to make the audience laugh through segregation and occupation. When their tour is taken internationally they face being stranded in London, and an escalation of the genocide in their homes spurs them on as they showcase the Palestinian people’s sense of humour even in the darkest of times.

An evening of comedy and conversation with the Palestine Comedy Club exploring how humour can challenge power, shift narratives, and hold space for difficult truths.

Join us for a unique look at the making of Palestine Comedy Club, a documentary that follows six Palestinian comedians as they journey across borders, checkpoints, and cultural divides to bring laughter to packed theatres in Palestine.

Through a mix of film clips, live reflections, and a taste of their comedy, we explores the challenges of earning comic license in complex environments and connecting with audiences across vastly different backgrounds.

Meet the team behind the film as they share insights on the creative process, the resilience required to tour under difficult circumstances, and the power of humour as a form of resistance, connection, and storytelling.

Speakers:
Alaa 'Regash' Aliabdallah (Director, Palestine Comedy Club)
Charlotte Knowles (Producer, Palestine Comedy Club and Founder, Tough Crowd)
Alaa Shehada (Comedian, Storyteller & Co-Founder, Palestine Comedy Club)

Palestine Comedy Club national Premiere at SXSW London.

Fuelled by the differences of Palestinian identity, rights and heritage, six comedians stage a comedy show together telling of what sets them apart, never forgetting the ways they’ve come together like a tapestry and realities faced by all Palestinians. Named after the stand up comedy initiative Palestine Comedy Club which works as part training school, part comedy troupe touring across the West Bank. Whether from Ramallah, Nablus, Haifa, Nazareth, Jerusalem or Jenin the comedian’s come together to make the audience laugh through segregation and occupation. When their tour is taken internationally they face being stranded in London, and an escalation of the genocide in their homes spurs them on as they showcase the Palestinian people’s sense of humour even in the darkest of times.

Alaa Shehada, Diana Sweity and Hanna Shammas from Palestine Comedy Club perform live at SXSW London after the national premiere of the highly anticipated feature documentary.

Palestine Comedy Club national Premiere at SXSW London.

Fuelled by the differences of Palestinian identity, rights and heritage, six comedians stage a comedy show together telling of what sets them apart, never forgetting the ways they’ve come together like a tapestry and realities faced by all Palestinians. Named after the stand up comedy initiative Palestine Comedy Club which works as part training school, part comedy troupe touring across the West Bank. Whether from Ramallah, Nablus, Haifa, Nazareth, Jerusalem or Jenin the comedian’s come together to make the audience laugh through segregation and occupation. When their tour is taken internationally they face being stranded in London, and an escalation of the genocide in their homes spurs them on as they showcase the Palestinian people’s sense of humour even in the darkest of times.