Joanne Kam bares all
The comedienne will reveal juicy details about her personal life in her upcoming one-woman show, writes Syahirah Mokhtazar
COMEDIENNE Joanne Kam Poh Poh has no qualms about making fun of herself. Ask the 45-year-old what she occupies herself with when she’s not busy making jokes on stage, she’ll tell you: “I like to eat! How did you think I got to this size?”, pointing to her voluptuous body.
But as much as she loves food (meat in particular), Kam is determined to stick to her New Year’s resolution to eat healthier.
“It’s hard to stick to resolutions but I’ll give it a shot. I’m trying not to eat so much as I don’t want to appear pregnant on stage,” she said with a laugh.
“I do want to try a new exercise that I can stick to as well,” she added.
And while the funny woman is on this pursuit, she’s also busy preparing material for her one-woman show titled
slated to debut this Jan 26 and 27 at 8.30pm in the PJ Live Arts Centre.
LIFE JOURNEY
For this special show, the audience will follow Kam on her life journey before she found fame in the local comedy scene.
“I’ve been crafting this material for the past five to six years. Now it’s a matter of revisiting those stories and editing them.
“Now is a good time to bare my soul and share my life story because people always regard me as the raunchy Joanne Kam, who appears on stage with a plunging neckline and makes jokes on naughty topics.
“I’ll talk about my childhood and how I eventually became a comedienne.
“I’ll also dive into details that not many know about me. A lot of things in my life have come into perspective in recent years.
“I was never an introvert but there are a lot of things that I keep to myself, some of which will be revealed on stage,” she says.
Kam will also be sharing her no-holds barred stories from her days at the
to her unexpected motherhood. “I’m 45 years old. I’m a single mother who had an unexpected pregnancy. Who is the baby’s daddy? This is something I’ll be sharing.
“It won’t be a national expose on Joanne Kam’s life, but a lot of personal details will be told, in a humorous manner of course.
“The only problem is fitting it in a one-hour show!” she says, laughing.
Being in the comedy scene for more than half of her life doesn’t mean she doesn’t get butterflies in her stomach before going on stage.
“I’m nervous! Not only because it’s my first one-woman show, but because the material differs so much to what I’ve done in the past.
“The material sheds so much light on my personal life, so to make that funny and relatable is a challenge. I want people to enjoy the night.”
The show also aims to inspire women as she addresses issues of weight, body image and self-confidence, in addition to promoting self-discovery.
NOT AN EASY TASK
“Comedy is not easy to do at all. It may take months to create a good 10-minute set,” she says.
Kam adds that when a comedian tells a story about his life, he has to be as honest as possible.
“The audience is smart.
They know when you’re making something up. Like it or not, you have to be as honest as possible, only then the audience will be able to relate to you.
“I’ve been in this industry for a long time and I have learnt that it’s crucial to read your audience to deliver a great performance.”
Tickets are priced at RM48 and RM58. The show is for mature audiences as it contains adult language. For details, visit www.tix.my or call 017-228 9849.