Eat, drink and laugh
Funnyman Harith Iskander tells Tahir Alhamzah about a place where people can be assured a good laugh and a jolly good time
WHEN The Joke Factory opened its doors last month, its owner comedian Harith Iskander knew that he was charting a slightly different direction in both his career and family life. “It’s always been my dream to have a comedy club. Besides, the time is right to bring stand-up comedy in this country up another level,” he shares with Groove.
“Comedy should be enjoyed and surrounded by great experience, and that is the reason why I wanted to open this club,” says the 52-year-old, who won the Laugh Factory’s Funniest Person In The World competition held in Finland in 2016.
At the outlet, patrons can grab a bite and some drinks before they adjourn for the show.
“I just want to re-create the experience of how people go watch football game at mamak stalls, getting some entertainment and some food and beverage at the same time,” he shares.
Harith adds that he hopes to see the stand-up comedy be appreciated as a viable art form.
“I aim to bring a certain professionalism and entertainment value via The Joke Factory. It’s a different kind of experience at this venue whereby besides comedy being the main product, I also want to up the game by bringing other offerings to the table.
“We want to see growth in the number of comedy audience as well as comedians themselves, where one feeds the other and vice versa; where market feeds the demand, and demand creates a market. We want to develop a two-way thing.
“At the end of the day, I believe Kuala Lumpur can someday be the centre of stand-up comedy in Southeast Asia,” says Harith, who aims to make this happen in the near future.
“And this is the first step towards that goal,” he says enthusiastically.
While comedy shows take place in the evening, during office hours, The Joke Factory can be turned into an event space for companies to conduct corporate training and team-building sessions with comedy elements.
He is also keen to share his experience and knowledge as a stand-up comedian with the younger batch of stand-up acts who will have Tuesday evening’s One-Mic Stand sessions to hone their skills.
BEHIND THE SCENE
Located at Publika Shopping Gallery in Solaris Dutamas, Harith admits that the impetus to finally realise the comedy club was from his wife Dr Jezamine Lim, 34.
“She is the brain, the brawn, the muscles, and the nerve of The Joke Factory. If anything, it’s all about her,” he says of his wife who impressed Malaysians last year when she became the first female student from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) to earn a PhD in stem cells and tissue engineering.
“Although we’re equal partner of this establishment, she’s actually the one behind The Joke Factory. The idea and everything came from her.
“She has her eyes everywhere. She handles 10 things at a time. Her role is way bigger than mine. Frankly speaking, I can only handle the show part,” says Harith, who is clearly in awe of his better half.
When patrons come to the premise, they can expect to be greeted by Joke and Lok, the section where they can enjoy a meal and few drinks first before they move on to catch the performance at the adjacent hall.
“The idea is to create an environment where people can come and unwind and think of coming here again the next time they want to go out for some good time,” he says.