Shazia Mirza

What a difference a year makes in some. In the last two Fringes when I have seen Ms Mirza’s shows, I feel that she did not do herself justice as it was almost as if she didn’t have the confidence to match her undoubted ability as a stand-up.

This year there is a new, more confident Shazia on view, she opens the set by riffing with her still mostly ‘white Guardian reading’ audience and switching on her engaging smile far more often, lighting up the stage in the process.

She still plays a lot of her material based on her heritage as a female Muslim on the comedy circuit, but if a line doesn’t work as she hopes, it’s almost a shrug and get on with next line, I had the feeling that this affected her more in previous years and hence harmed the rest of her set.

She can get away with material that would possibly seem risqué from a white comedian, but to me, never pushes the boundaries too far.

She still can be self-deprecating at times, suggesting that some of her audience were only there because other comedians were sold out, but if that was the case, given the quality of this years show, I’m sure most of the same will be their by choice next year!! 

****

G

Fringe Programme Page No

76

Company

Shazia Mirza

Venue Name and Number

Pleasance Jack Dome V 23 

Dates and Times

1 to 27 August  ( not 13 ) 21.40 to 22.40 

Comedy 2007

Music 2007

Others 2007

Theatre 2007

Musicals 2007

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