2016 New Act of the Year award winner (formerly the Hackney Empire New Act award) BILAL ZAFAR brings his debut show Cakes to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer, performing at Just the Tonic at the Mash House from 4th – 28th August (excluding 15th) at 3:40pm.
CAKES tells the story of how BILAL’s Twitter handle, @zafarcakes, became a focal point for the misguided rage of the global far right when it was mistaken for the account of a Muslim-only bakery on the site. Having provoked the outrage of such defenders of Britishness as Katie Hopkins, EDL supporters and the Daily Star, Cakes shows how BILAL used humour to respond to the prejudice and abuse increasingly faced by British Muslims today.
BILAL joined the company of previous winners such as JOE WILKINSON, ARDAL O’HANLON, STEWART LEE and LINDA SMITH when he came top of the bill at this year’s New Act of the Year competition. In 2015 he was the runner up at the Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year competition, and has previously written about his faith for The Independent.
What the press has said about Bilal Zafar
“very talented…a brilliantly honed routine…needless to say it is sharply observed, pertinent and has an inspired pay off…Zafar could go far”
Bruce Dessau, Beyond the Joke
“he succeeds in translating the comedy within those 140 characters for the live medium, with every idiotic comment beautifully exposed by his relaxed, knowing performance; and the exchanges building skilfully and unexpectedly into a full narrative”
Steve Bennett, Chortle
“What could have started as little more than an amusing anecdote became a reflection on prejudice and its rapid escalation…impressive”
Ben Venables, Londonist
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Bilal Zafar – Cakes
Venue: Just the Tonic at the Mash House
Date: 4th – 28th August (excluding 15th)
Time: 3:40pm
Web: www.bilalzafarcomedy.com
For more information and press tickets please contact: Nathan Dean or Lottie Robertshaw at Avalon on 0207 598 7222 or [email protected]/[email protected]
