“a comedian on the verge of world-class… Star-in-the-making alert!… The big stage beckons” ★★★★
Dominic Maxwell, The Times
“Zainab Johnson is elegant, graceful and warm… charisma and charm personified…Johnson’s sharpened her wry observational comedy with pithy writing and an astute attitude” ★★★★
Steve Bennett, Chortle
“One of the best stand-up comedy shows of the year” ★★★★★
Kat Mokrynski, Broadway World
Following her hit stand-up special Hijabs Off (Prime Video), and her first UK run with her sell-out and critically-acclaimed show at London’s Soho Theatre last year, comedian, actor and writer Zainab Johnson makes her highly-anticipated debut at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. One of Variety’s ‘Top 10 Comics to Watch’, Zainab will be performing her new show, Toxically Optimistic, at the Fringe at Pleasance Courtyard, Above from 30th July – 24th August at 6.40pm.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe tickets are on sale now. Full dates and tickets at zainabjohnson.com
Quickly propelled as one of the most unique and engaging performers on stage and screen, Zainab has become known for telling stories about dating, alongside her identity as a Black female Muslim and being one of 13 siblings. In her new show, Zainab explores being charitable on dates, owning a gun but refusing to kill, a surprising friendship with a wild animal and revealing her toxic trait: Optimism.
Zainab’s debut special, Hijabs Off, was named as one of the ‘Best Comedy Specials of 2023’ (Vulture), and saw her profiled in Rolling Stone and the LA Times. Elsewhere on television and radio, she stars as a series regular in the hit original comedy sci-fi series Upload (Prime Video), was one of the hosts on documentary series 100 Humans (Netflix) and starred as Dr. Hanniel in the brilliantly written web series Avant-Guardians. Zainab has also appeared on Ramy (Hulu), A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO), American Koko (ABC), Private Practice (ABC) and was a stand-out panellist on comedy quiz show Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! (NPR). As a stand-up, Zainab made her first late night stand-up appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers (NBC), had a breakout appearance on stand-up series All Def Comedy (HBO) and was a finalist in the Emmy-Award nominated series Last Comic Standing (NBC), the American reality television comedy competition. Zainab also hosts the I’m Reasonable with Zainab Johnson YouTube podcast, examining her own life as well as everything happing in the world through the lens of trying to be reasonable all the time, which alongside her stand-up videos, has gained millions of views on social media.
As a live performer, Zainab has performed at the prestigious Melbourne International Comedy Festival, at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, first in the festival’s annual showcase of emerging stand-up talent, New Face of Comedy, and most recently on the longest running JFL show Just For The Culture. Zainab is a regular at The Comedy Store, The Improv, and Laugh Factory in Los Angeles as well as the Comedy Cellar in New York City.
Further praise for Zainab Johnson
“Johnson is enlightening and cracking up audiences by riffing on her roots”
Megan Jordan, Rolling Stone
“her special is a laugh-out-loud, thoughtful and honest look at Johnson’s life as one of 13 children, growing up Muslim, and more that tells her story in a much bigger way.”
Marissa Evans, Los Angeles Times
“a patient rhythm that belies the tightness of each segment and adds levity to some dark topics.”
Margaret Lyons, The New York Times
“It’s unusual, though, for that kind of special to have the guts and the careful confidence to also be a “now comes the serious part” comedy hour. Hijabs Off does it … she’s the kind of comedian who can do it with grace.”
Kathryn VanArendonk, New York Magazine Vulture
“so many hilarious moments… Hijabs Off serves up more than enough laughs.”
Clare Martin, Paste
“explores her identity as a Black female Muslim, having 12 siblings, and growing up in Harlem… has gone to great lengths to be the comedian she’s always wanted to become… Of course it paid off. Stream it.”
Sean McCarthy, Decider
“so funny… That mix of silly and serious seems to come naturally for Johnson”
Elizabeth Blair, NPR
EDINBURGH FRINGE LISTINGS INFORMATION
Zainab Johnson – Toxically Optimistic
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard, Above
Date & Time: 30th July – 24th August at 6.40pm
Duration: 60 min
Web: zainabjohnson.com
zainabjohnson.com | Instagram @zainabjohnson | TikTok @thezainabjohnson | YouTube @zainabjohnson
For more information, images, press tickets, or if you have interview requests, please contact: Perrine Davari at PDavari@avalonuk.com / 020 7598 8000
