b"THE QUEER QUEENS OF COMEDYElissa Blake from Audrey Journal chats to two of the comedians who will perform as part of Spice Night during the Mardi Gras Festival. Four of the Asian regions brightest queer comedy stars are heading toThere are raids, sometimes, but they are only to make a point, Kam Riverside Theatres for Spice Night, a stand-up showcase that shines asays. They will come into the clubs and say the performers are working humorous light on life for LGBTIQ people in Singapore, India, Malaysiagirls when really they are just doing a cabaret. They take them into and the Philippines. custody for a night, the press get their photos and then everyone is Living and working in countries where homosexuality is illegal or has onlylet go the next day. Its just so that someone can say, were stopping been recently decriminalised, each brings a unique perspective on whattranssexuals doing illegal activities. But what doesnt get reported is that it means to be out. these girls arent doing anything illegal. Theyre just doing a show. Thats how it is at the moment.We talk to Malaysias queen of comedy, Joanne Kam and MumbaisKam got her start in comedy in Singapore in the 1990s, in the citys now Navin Noronha, reputedly India's only out gay stand-up about love, lifedefunct Boom Boom Room. After a year or so, Kam moved back to Kuala and laughter in their respective cities. Lumpur to start a club of the same name. Joanne Kam That was 27 years ago now and it was only then that people in Kuala In a Western comedy club, free speech rules. Once youre on the mike,Lumpur got their first look at stand-up. But the scene really exploded you can say anything, more or less.maybe 10 years ago. All of a sudden there were new comedians popping You might get a laugh. You might be howled down for it. At worst, youup everywhere.might cop a blast via social media. But chances are you wont end up inYouTube has been instrumental in the development of comedy careers custody. and profile, Kam says. But I am old school. I say you are only a comic if In the Asian region, where stand-up comedy is a burgeoning but evolvingyou can stand up in front of a crowd of 200 people in a room and make phenomenon, things are a little morecomplicated.them laugh!In Malaysia, for example, there are limits to what you can say andKam describes her style as very risqu. permissions to be sought, says Joanne Kam. And when you identify asI started doing pure stand-up, but in the last couple of years, I've been LGBTIQ, everything becomes exponentially more difficult. doing more long-form comedy and comedy stories, as well as song We wanted a queer comedian to come to our club in Kuala Lumpur andparodies and skits. My act now is a combination of all these things. I we had to apply for a permit three times because the authorities foundhave a bag of tricks and it really depends on what the producer of the out that this comedian was very active in the LGBTIQ community andnight will allow me to do. But you will definitely get the risqu version of they were concerned he might promote the LGBTIQ lifestyle, which, in KLme in Australia.these days, is a sensitive subject. Kam is also known for her costumes as loud as her onstage personality. In Malaysia right now, there is one side of the population that wants toRight now, were trying to figure out what I can bring to Australia push the envelope and another side that ismore traditional. because some of the costumes are quite delicate. And there are baggage Kam, who identifies as bisexual, often works in cabaret and drag clublimits. I need 60kgs!settings in KL and for the most part, its a free and open environment for performers. But then there are times when someone in authority decides to make a stand on a morality issue.42"