CULTURE
Kaning it
Award-winning British comic Russell Kane returns to the UAE this month
H
e’s back. The keenly-awaited brand new tour show is here. Packing more energy than a Duracell factory, the awardwinning British comic Russell Kane will motor through love, family and life during Covid when he performs in Dubai on September 29. Despite his meteoric success, the Essex-born lad never wanted to be a comedian growing up. He had zero interest in the topic. He’d never been to see comedy, it didn’t amuse him and it wasn’t something he knew anything about. “When you grow up on a council estate it’s not exactly a pursuit that you go and try on the weekend,” says Kane. By pure accident, someone at his work suggested that he give it a go. So, he took on the challenge to try stand-up on a dare. But after one show, and after hearing his first
round of applause, Kane was hooked. Not only did he love it, but audiences and critics loved him too. In 2010 he won comedy’s prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award, swiftly followed by the Barry Award for comedy in 2011. He’s toured across the UK performing to sold-out shows, starred in his brilliant Bear Grylls-style travel series Stupid Man, Smart Phone and appeared in various other TV appearances, including The Royal Variety Performance, Live At The Apollo & I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here. Now Kane brings his latest stand-up tour to the UAE, with a one-night-only show at Dubai Opera. September 29 a Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, Wed 8pm, from Dhs150. Tel: (0)4 4408888. dubaiopera.com
PROOF OF VACCINATION IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS PERFORMANCE
RUSSELL KANE ON…. Getting into stand-up “It wasn’t exactly the result of a lifelong burning passion. I googled ‘stand-up London’, phoned the first number I saw and got myself an open spot.” ★
Stage fright “I’m very comfortable on stage… when it’s going well. If it’s not I’ll be hiding in the toilet rocking back and forth.” ★
His new grown-up look “I was in the middle of spraytanning myself in skinny pants when the doorbell went. I opened the door and this window cleaner was touting for work. He said, ‘I’m really sorry to disturb you: is your mum or dad in at all?’ That’s when I knew I needed to change.” ★
His baby “Babies are so weird – they’re just like a bag of organs with a really gross soft bit on their head.” ★
Being a comedian “I love it. If I ever have a bad day, I think about the things my family have done for a living. The fact that I can walk into a hotel, lie on the bed, watch a sci-fi movie, go and do an hour’s work on stage is incredible.”
64_What’s On
