Review by Taya Elzayadi
I had the pleasure of attending Bassem Youssef’s UK Tour at the Royal Festival Hall, London, and I have to say, it was one of the best comedy performances I have ever seen.
Bassem Youssef is a world-renowned comedian and satirist, who made a name for himself during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Dubbed the ‘Jon Stewart of the Arab World’, Youssef was the host of a popular TV show AlBernameg, the first political satire news programme of its kind in the Middle East. What began as 5-minute YouTube episodes, became the first online-to-TV conversion in the Middle East, and the most watched show across the region with over 40 million viewers each week. The show remained controversial yet increasingly successful, as Youssef used intelligent humour and wit to challenge Egypt’s ruling regimes and offer an alternative point-of-view to his Egyptian audience. Needless-to-say, this eventually led to the cancellation of the show and Youssef’s immigration to the US.
Bassem opened his act by introducing two very talented young Arab/British comedians, Omar Badawi and Talal Kartouti, who had the room laughing instantly, paving the way for Bassem’s grand entrance. From the moment he stepped onstage, Bassem had the audience in fits and stitches. He introduced us to his past stardom in Egypt and his experience transitioning to a new life as an Egyptian/ Arab/ Muslim in America – the land of ‘freedom of expression’ and equal opportunities… or so he thought.
What impressed me the most about Bassem’s performance was his ability to balance comedy and commentary. He made jokes about serious issues, but never lost sight of the fact that he was there to make a point. He used humour to tackle a range of topics; from immigration to censorship, and the current state of politics in the US. His jokes were relevant and timely, and he had the audience rolling in the aisles but doing some deep thinking at the same time.
Another thing that stood out in Bassem’s performance was his delivery. He has a unique style that blends his Egyptian background with his American upbringing, and it makes for a truly unique and captivating performance. Although the show was entirely in English, a second language for Bassem, his delivery was confident and natural, and he never missed a beat.
Bassem is a talented comedian with a unique perspective, and his ability to tackle timely issues with humour and grace is truly remarkable. If you have the chance to see him live, I highly recommend it!
Bassem Youssef performed at the Royal Festival Hall as part of his 2023 UK tour. Tickets were purchased by the reviewer and not gifted.