London comedy scene gets a vital boost with foc fest
Kemah Bob, a name increasingly synonymous with progressive change in the UK comedy landscape, is betting big on community. Their brainchild, FOC It Up, a comedy club specifically for femmes of colour, is expanding with its inaugural FOC Fest – a day-long event promising workshops, masterclasses, and a riotous comedy showcase at Soho Theatre on April 18th.
A space forged from frustration, now a festival
The story began in 2018, born from a simple desire, as Bob puts it, “to work with more people of colour that weren’t dudes.” Initially a one-hour slot within The Cocoa Butter Club’s cabaret festival, FOC It Up quickly blossomed into a vital space, hosting mixed-bill nights, launching a podcast, and even taking shows to the Edinburgh Fringe. But the need for something more substantial – a dedicated platform for growth and connection – became clear.
“I wanted to have a space that felt different – warm and inclusive,” Bob explains, “not in a performative way, but in a way that just is. Like, everyone’s here, and that’s really cool.” The upcoming festival embodies this ethos, offering sessions tailored to aspiring comedians, including a stand-up masterclass for trans and queer individuals, and a workshop exploring “big feelings” through humour – a powerful tool for self-reclamation, Bob asserts, accessible to everyone, though with a clear intention: “white audience members are encouraged to check their privilege at the door.”
The challenge, as Bob candidly admits, is funding. Despite a decade of dedication, FOC It Up operates without external financial backing, relying solely on the profits from their existing shows. “We have no financial backing; we are literally just using the extra of what we’ve made,” Bob states, highlighting the systemic barriers faced by minority-led initiatives in the UK arts scene. Sponsorship attempts have yielded little success, a frustrating reality that underscores the ongoing struggle for recognition and investment.
But the lack of traditional support hasn’t dampened Bob’s ambition. The festival represents a pivotal moment, a testament to the enduring talent within the FOC It Up community. “The talent within our community is endless – and the hunger for this is boundless,” they proclaim, a sentiment echoed by the impressive roster of industry guests, including Nana Hughes and Julia McKenzie, slated to participate in the event’s panels.
The journey hasn’t been without its complexities. Following George Floyd’s death in 2020, Bob experienced a surge in TV opportunities, a wave of performative allyship that, as quickly as it arrived, receded. “All of a sudden I went from having no TV work to loads of it,” Bob recalls, “But as quickly as that became important, it lost its importance when all the performative activism had been achieved … it kind of speaks to the fact that people still see our voices as a trend, right?”
Looking ahead, Bob envisions FOC It Up evolving into an international institution, a nexus for comedic talent from across the globe. “It would be so cool if we could have artists [on our bills] from New York or artists from India or Berlin, like a cross-pollination.” The first FOC Fest is not merely an event; it’s a declaration of intent – a bold step towards a more inclusive and vibrant comedy landscape.
Beyond laughs: a movement takes shape
The ultimate goal, according to Bob, is to foster a supportive ecosystem where comedians can fund their own work, building on the foundation laid by FOC It Up. This festival is just the beginning.