Dominic Holland set for The Laughter Factory in May
Spider-Man's dad heads up triple bill of favourites alongside Kai Humphries and Addy Van Der Borgh
Three of our favourite stand-ups are back by popular demand at The Laughter Factory – with Dominic Holland, Kai Humphries and Addy Van Der Borgh taking equal billing on our May tour.
Today Dominic Holland may be best known as “Spider-Man's dad” – his son is Tom Holland, who plays Peter Parker across the Marvel universe. But that doesn't take away from Dominic's 25 years in the limelight – which have included writing three novels, numerous TV appearances and penning gags for Bob Monkhouse, Lenny Henry and Harry Enfield.
Geordie lad Kai Humphries is a fresh and colloquial voice, who wins over audiences with his down-to-earth demeanour and bloke-down-the-pub charm.
A qualified clown who has picked up praise from Chris Rock and Daniel Kitson, Addy Van Der Borgh is an instantly arresting comedy veteran, who fills the stage with his sharp, insightful wit and larger-than-life antics.
The Laughter Factory – listings
What: The Laughter Factory starring Dominic Holland, Kai Humphries and Addy Van Der Borgh
Where/when:
May 11th & 12th – Moevenpick JBR*, 9PM
May 15th & 16th – Grand Hyatt DOHA, 8PM
May 17th – Park Rotana AUH, 8PM
May 18th – Grand Millennium*, 9PM
May 19th – Gramercy, 9PM
Price: Dhs140/OR 140 – book now at thelaughterfactory.com
Evening pre-show drinks and buffet packages are available from venues marked with a *, from Dh260.
Ages 21+ only.
Introducing the comics...
Dominic Holland
Dominic Holland has lived his life six steps away from stardom. He was managed by Eddie Izzard. He won the Perrier Best Newcomer Award back in 1993. He has penned jokes for Bob Monkhouse, Lenny Henry and Harry Enfield. Holland has also written three novels, hosted his own BBC Radio series and appeared on tropes of TV shows, including Have I Got News For You.
And yet today, after a quarter-century in the near-limelight, Dominic's greatest claim to fame is being Spider-Man's dad.
His son is Tom Holland, AKA the new face of Peter Parker across multiple movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who debuted in Captain America: Civil War and will star in this year's reboot Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The acclaimed actor who also played the title role of Billy Elliot the Musical. And who starred alongside Naomi Watts in The Impossible.
Dad Dominic might be a little miffed. Especially when Watts called and his younger son, Harry, was cast as Prince Harry in her next movie, The Queen. Especially as Dominic has spent decades mocking both sons with impersonations on stage as a stand-up.
“I have been trying to make it as a star for a long time. For more than 20 years, my entire income has come from making people laugh — or trying to,” he wrote in the Daily Mail.
“But I am the first to admit that I have never been a household name. I have looked on bemused and delighted as the stars of my first and now second son have soared, entirely eclipsing their old man.”
Kai Humphries
Described as “hilarious”, “surreal” and a “natural entertainer”, there's a refreshingly optimistic streak to Kai Humphries' brand of stand-up.
A proud Geordie lad, he tells stories and cracks asides like a mate on a night out, breaking down the barriers between stage and audience with a mix of warmth and banter.
A finalist in 2009's career-making So You Think You're Funny? competition, Kai quickly shot up the comedy ranks with a slot supporting Rhod Gilbert on tour and TV appearances on Comedy Central's The Comedy Store. He debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010 with the acclaimed Kai Humphries – Evolution solo show, returning a year later with Bare-Faced Cheek and then with subsequent hour-long solo shows Shameless and Stuff Protocol.
To top it all off, he has perfected the art of completing a Rubik’s Cube, on cue, as part of his routine – while Humphries' battlerap skills have become, he notes, “something of an internet hit”.
Addy Van Der Borgh
Praised as a “brilliant natural clown” by Daniel Kitson, and singled out for his “great jokes” by Chris Rock, Perrier-nominated Addy Van Der Borgh is the kind of comedian other comedians greedily – or jealously – check out.
A qualified clown and physical theatre graduate with an instantly arresting stage presence, Addy is a master of blurring physical comedy into the anecdotal and observational – you can't take your eyes off him, but the punchlines still come through the ears, and into the mind.
If the praise doesn't convince you, the credits should. A stage and screen veteran, he has been featured on the BBC's Stand-up Show and Brain Candy, and Comedy Central's The World Stands Up. Also a TV presenter, he co-helmed 20 episodes of Sky's TV Meltdown alongside pin-up starlet Kirsty Gallacher, and as an actor has appeared on BBC Radio 4's iconic Loose Ends and starred in the film Little Things.
The critics, too, are unanimous in their praise “Van der Borgh can compete with freestylers such as Ross Noble” said the London Evening Standard. “This man was born to make people laugh” gushed the Edinburgh Evening News.
About The Laughter Factory
The Laughter Factory is the Middle East's longest-running comedy night, proudly making the GCC laugh since 1997. Evert month The Laughter Factory hosts a fresh bill of three different professional comedians, many already familiar stars of the screen on hit UK TV shows.
With a reputation for quality and a sharp eye for talent, The Laughter Factory has showcased reams of A-list comics on their way to superstardom, including Michael McIntyre, Russell Peters, Ed Byrne, Dara O'Brien, Ross Noble, Jason Manford, Sean Hughes, Kevin Bridges and Frankie Boyle.
The Laughter Factory's commitment to comedy has been recognised by numerous publications, winning several accolades over its two-decade history, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Time Out Dubai in 2013.
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