Comedy at KINO
Mentoring the the Laughs in the Heart of Vancouver, Cambie Village.
KINO CAFE in the heart of Cambie Village is synonymous with flamenco, but for the past seven years, it has also been the only Comedy Room in town. Every Tuesday since January 23rd, 2007, Kino’s stage has hosted comics, from first timers to professionals, of all ages. Steven Allen started a Comedy Room after returning from L.A. where they are numerous. “When I was in L.A., there were these Comedy Rooms where comics could try out their acts or jokes before performing them in a Comedy Club. I approached the guys who owned KINO Cafe and asked them if I could do that here on Tuesday nights,” explains Allen. “Now we can say we’ve had 400 shows and 4000 acts on the longest continuously running Comedy stage in town.” Allen purchased KINO Cafe in 2014 and continues the tradition. David MacLean and Jacob Samuel met in university, and now meet on stage. “Steve allows us to experiment on stage,” says MacLean, who is taking some time off after completing one year of law school. “It’s a great place to work out material before performing in Comedy Clubs. He is supportive and offers the infrastructure that urges you to develop material and polish it.” Jacob agrees. “It’s still competitive, but in a supporting way. It’s an accessible opportunity as a new comic or developing comic to get feedback on your jokes. Steve will let new guys try just three minutes on stage. Nobody else can give you that in Vancouver. I would define KINO Comedy Room like hockey camp,” says Jacob. “It’s where you really learn how to play.” “Every city has a Comedy Room, and ours is KINO.” David and Jacob have teamed together with a new show they stage at KINO on Sundays. “It’s a Late Night Talk Show for Early Risers, Sunday nights at 8pm,” says David. “We host it on stage at KINO on the last Sunday of every month. People can come out and watch stand up comedians and musical acts.” Both Jacob and David write their own jokes. “Steve is our coach. He carries the stopwatch around his neck.” The admiration and gratitude the comics have for KINO and Steve Allen is clear. Tuesday nights are for comedy. Wednesday to Sunday nights are for flamenco. “Except the last Sunday of the month; that’s when people can come watch our talk show live.”
Nic Loberg (with notes) PS: If you think Steve Allen looks familiar, you might want to revisit the fifthseason of X-Files.
... I would define KINO Comedy Room like hockey camp.... It’s where you really learn how to play.
Jacob Samuel