Following the success of a month-long, critically-acclaimed run performed to packed audiences at Edinburgh Festival, thoughtful wastrel AHIR SHAH returns to the Soho Theatre from Monday 19th to Saturday 24th October to perform Distant, a stand-up show about the importance of faraway things. Through his incisive brand of comedy, SHAH will unpick topics spanning World War One, cigarettes, vegetarianism, Islamism, capitalism, politics, climate change, love, and pirates. The show contains tons of sweet gags and the venue is highly accessible via public transport.
SHAH began occasionally doing stand-up at fifteen (i.e. too young), and over the course of the last nine years the development of his erudite, philosophical style has seen his position in the circuit skyrocket from “curiosity” to “interloper”. Distant is the fourth hour SHAH has performed at the Fringe, succeeding Texture (2014) which was described by Chortle as “a delightful, considered and intelligent piece of work from a comedian who’s gained his wings”, Anatomy (2013) which Fest regarded as being “as thoughtful and compelling a show as you’re likely to come across all August”, and Astrology (2011), which wasn’t hugely great but all-in-all a decent piece of work considering it was his first one and he was twenty at the time. His 2013 show later won the award for Best Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival (2014), which was nice.
Outside of stand-up, SHAH is currently writing a sitcom pilot for Channel 4 titled Strange Land, about immigration in 1960s London. He has also been a contributing writer on Skins (Channel 4), The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4) and Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 Extra). His television credits include Brotherhood (Comedy Central), The Midnight Beast (E4), Live At The Electric (BBC Three) and Campus and The Seven Ages of Love (both Channel 4).
What the press has said about Distant:
“A questing argument against compassion fatigue and a generational cri de coeur” ★★★★ The Guardian
“Passionate, poetic, and powerfully funny” ★★★★ The List
“An over-educated, self-hating leftie” ★★★★ The Scotsman
“A show of depth and intelligence” ★★★★ The Skinny
“A great deal of heart” ★★★★ Fest
“Fierce and funny” ★★★★ Edinburgh Festivals Magazine
“Astounding zeal” ★★★★★ Broadway Baby
LISTINGS INFORMATION:
Venue: Soho Theatre, Upstairs
Date: Monday 19th – Saturday 24th October
Time: Mon 19th – Wed 21st 8.45pm, Thu 22nd – Sat 24th 10.15pm
Twitter: @ahirshah
For more information and press tickets, please contact:
Victoria Wedderburn: victoriaw@avalonuk.com / 0207 598 7222
