Guest blog by Charlotte Knowles (Producer)
Being involved in the growing stand-up comedy scene in Palestine has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. And yet, every time I talk about Palestine Comedy Club, the documentary I produced with Palestinian filmmaker Alaa Aliabdallah, I get the same reaction:
“Stand-up comedy? In Palestine?!”
Why the surprise? Don’t Palestinians deserve laughter just as much as anyone else?
This incredulity speaks volumes about the way Palestine is perceived in the West. Too often, Palestinian identity is reduced to images of suffering and destruction—a place where hope is scarce and joy invisible.
But Palestine is not the lost cause we have been led to believe.
Spend any time there, and you quickly discover the rich and diverse cultural life that exists beyond the headlines: the music, art, theatre, and yes—comedy. The stand-up comedians we follow in our documentary show a side to Palestine that we never see in the news. They come from Haifa, Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron, and the Golan Heights: a collection of towns that span the length and breadth of Palestine’s small but complex geography, encompassing a mix of Palestinian and Syrian cultures, diverse religious identities, and contrasting daily experiences of life under occupation.
Together, the comedians devised and toured a comedy show that unpacks the complex, often dark humour surrounding Palestinian identity.
To be clear—there is no tradition of regular comedy clubs in Palestine. It’s not as simple as rocking up to an open mic night and trying out material. Communities are separated by walls, fences, and checkpoints, and the cultural and linguistic differences between one town and another can be stark. The comedians in our film had to navigate these divides—physically and creatively—figuring out how to make their comedy resonate with wildly different audiences.
The logistical challenges of touring six Palestinian comedians across checkpoints and borders were enormous. Different travel permits, different restrictions, and an ever-changing political landscape meant that what seemed possible one day became impossible the next. And yet, despite all this, the audiences came. The word spread. What started as an experiment gained momentum and eventually the comedians were being invited to perform abroad, initially the UK.
Then came October 7th, 2023.
Three of the comedians landed in London just as war broke out back home. Suddenly, the idea of performing—of making people laugh—became an existential question. Could they? Should they? As British audiences became more polarised, the mission to connect through comedy felt more urgent than ever.
One moment that has stayed with me is something comedian Alaa Shehada says in our film: “It is very important in Palestine to laugh and share stories.” Comedy is never just entertainment; it’s survival, a way of finding connection and a form of resistance. It’s a way of asserting one’s humanity in the face of dehumanisation.
Since my first trip to Palestine, I have encouraged friends, family and others in my community in the UK to travel to Palestine, experience for themselves, and understand that Palestine is something for us all to fight for. My personal hope for this documentary is that Western audiences are able to experience a slice of this, and to form a connection to Palestinian history and culture that might evolve into emboldened advocacy.
After watching the comedians perform live at Hay Literary Festival, British audience members told us, “I’ve always felt intimidated to talk about Palestine, but now I feel I could have a conversation about it.” This is exactly why we made this film. Laughter breaks down barriers. It invites connection. It allows us to see each other’s humanity.
As Palestine Comedy Club heads into its festival run, we hope it not only brings Palestinian voices to wider audiences but also inspires other social justice storytellers to use comedy to engage people in difficult conversations. Because, in the end, laughter is about more than joy—it’s about connection. And the only power we have in the world is when we come together.
We are holding a special private screening in London in November hosted by UK comedy legend Nish Kumar.
Tickets are only available through our crowdfunder until March 8th.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/palestine-comedy-club