With his wry observations making him unique yet accessible, Hamad AlShriaan has become one of Kuwait’s top comedians, amassing over 12,000 Instagram followers. Hamad’s comedy hinges on his incorporation of cultural references into broader concerns, engaging the shared experiences of all listeners. His delivery combines sharp wit and timing, deploying humor to address social problems, share personal memories, and describe routine situations from different angles, leaving his listeners laughing out loud.

The group Hamad performs with, the Kuwait Comedy Club, holds free stand-up comedy shows weekly. The club welcomes acts who deploy irony and sarcasm – essential tools when dealing with sensitive social issues. This offers a platform for promoting open discussion of and appreciation for problems plaguing Kuwaiti and broader society, while also creating empathy among participants who laugh at each other’s jokes.

Comedy lovers see the club as one of the funniest venues in Kuwait City. It has a healthy social media presence, attracting nearly 17,000 Instagram followers. Both Hamad and the Kuwait Comedy Club have become important elements of Kuwait’s cultural scene, using humor as a potent tool to motivate, teach, and unite. AGSIW recently spoke to Hamad, who talked about his experiences doing stand-up comedy, what makes a joke resonate with an audience, and the comedic influences that have shaped his personal journey.

AGSIW: Can you tell us about the Kuwait Comedy Club?

Hamad: The Kuwait Comedy Club began gaining popularity around 2012, when it was established by Ahmad AlShammari and Ahmad Bosaif. I recently joined the club, and it holds free events every Monday at different venues with improvisation and comedy segments. As soon as we announce a show, all the seats are taken two hours later because tickets are free. This shows how popular the club has become as an entertainment venue in Kuwait.

AGSIW: Talk about your creative process. Do you have any preperformance or preproduction rituals?

Hamad: Usually, before a stand-up comedy show, you must know the demographics of the audience. This allows you to change your approach for different individuals. For instance, in Kuwait, I did two shows for people of two different backgrounds. One audience was Western influenced, while the other was traditionally Kuwaiti and lacked any Western exposure. This led me to change my jokes and delivery. You cannot tell the same joke to two different audiences.

AGSIW: Who were your early comedic influences? Were they Western or Gulf comedians?

Hamad: From a young age, all I did was watch comedy movies and comedy shows. I really like the romantic comedy genre. One of my favorite shows is Seinfeld, which I think is extremely funny. When I was 12 or 13, YouTube began gaining traction, so I became interested in Western stand-up comedians through the platform.

AGSIW: Your style of humor on Instagram has made you quite popular. How do you mix Kuwaiti references about local culture with topics that people from other countries can relate to?

Hamad: Stand-up allows people to be close to the comedian because they can provide observations to connect with the audience. For instance, when I talk about leaving work during rush hour in Kuwait City at a show in Kuwait, a wide range of individuals relate to what I am saying because people know what it’s like to be stuck in traffic in Kuwait. However, if you speak to a Kuwaiti or Gulf audience about a foreign experience, such as the New York City metro, they will not connect with your jokes, and the delivery will be poorly received. As a comedian, you must make sure you know who your audience is to ensure effective communication.

Most of my jokes are about daily problems. When I started, I began discussing the topic of marriage, and it was well received. Kuwaitis are used to jokes about marriage, especially within diwaniyas, where men usually talk about their struggles in marriage. These topics are comfortably discussed and allow people to laugh in an easy manner.

AGSIW: Comedy can serve as a mirror reflecting society’s cultural values and beliefs. What are some of the major themes or ideas that you tend to explore in your stand-up routines?

Hamad: Generally speaking, as a comedian, you make sure not to mix your personal life with your comedy career. Immersing yourself in personal problems in your jokes obscures the comedic vision. For instance, if I criticize a certain cultural practice within Kuwaiti society, some of the audience typically won’t like it. Ultimately, this will lead to backlash, which I tend to avoid. I want my audience to be on my side and not be hostile toward me. Once, I said in a joke about a Kuwaiti man: “Ten different women want him, but this is not true because maybe his own partner does not want to be with him!” Therefore, I am very careful if I use personal stories in my comedic practice.

AGSIW: How do you make sure that your art, as a Kuwaiti artist, remains true to its heritage?

Hamad: There needs to be equal balance between your culture and yourself so that you, as a comedian, can illustrate to others your true authentic self without restricting your personality. Always stay true to yourself, and show this to people regardless of their origin. For instance, when I went to Madrid, Spain, I did not have to explain to the audience what Kuwait actually is – they already knew. Although people in Spain are not from Kuwait, they can still ultimately connect with the messages being conveyed in my comedy. It breaks down barriers between others.

Once, during a show in Bahrain, I made a joke about how Bahrainis and Saudis always ask, “Where are you from in Kuwait?” But what the Bahrainis and Saudis don’t know is Kuwait is so small geographically that no one asks this question in Kuwait! The contrast makes Bahrainis and Saudis laugh.

AGSIW: In this age of social media, how can you ensure that your online personality is true but still appeals to the audience?

Hamad: When I first began uploading videos on social media, I knew I had to post relatable content, such as daily life experiences. Generally, as soon as I get an idea to post a video, I immediately do it. This allows me to share a more authentic experience with my audience.

AGSIW: Can comedy bring about positive change in Gulf states, such as Kuwait?

Hamad: You can be a beacon for change, but not every comedian does it, and it differs on a case-by-case basis. When I allow you to laugh about a silly thing that you do, it allows you to conclude that you must stop that silly practice. When the audience realizes that they are doing something silly, that changes their perspective. Whenever I see someone doing something obnoxious, I try to mention it in my comedy shows, which could be a form of reactionary activism.

AGSIW: If there was one thing you could recommend to a young comedian, what would it be?

Hamad: I don’t generally recommend becoming a comedian. However, if you want to be one, being a funny person is a sign you can make it as a comedian. Generally speaking, we Kuwaitis enjoy international arts and culture, whether it is music, visual arts, or television. We also love films. However, we generally do not want to become comedians or actors because it is frowned upon and has a negative connotation in Kuwaiti society. Most Kuwaiti parents don’t want their children to be comedians or actors. However, if you are a young person aspiring to be a comedian, I suggest you first go perform at a theater to see the audience’s reactions to your jokes.

AGSIW: Are you pursuing other mediums besides comedy?

Hamad: I want to write a masrahiya, or Kuwaiti play. Previously, I helped write the second season of the show “Taqdeer Alahteeyaj” (“Needs Assessment”), which is supposed to be an adaptation of “The Office.” Also, I recently tried doing stand-up shows in English rather than Arabic, which is something I wish to expand upon in the future. Generally, I don’t perform in English in Kuwait. I studied in a government school in Kuwait, so I am not as confident in my English as others who studied in American schools in Kuwait. I only started performing in English after a recent trip to Barcelona, Spain, where I performed in an open-mic stand-up comedy show in English. I will try to further conduct comedy shows abroad in English and expand on my career as a result of this venture.