Edited by Holly Sands Music & Nightlife [email protected] Chuckle vision

As The Laughter Factory celebrates its 18th year with a gig, Rob Garratt takes a nostalgic look back at the lifetime of a UAE nightlife institution Shows in Doha...

When Gail Clough and Duncan Jones fl ew over a few comics to host their fi rst comedy night at the Hyatt Regency back in May 1997, they had little idea they’d still be making the UAE laugh nearly two decades on. Now billed as the longest-running regular night in the Middle East, The Laughter Factory is a GCC institution, renowned for serving up a reliable ... and Abu Dhabi roster of decent to gigs in Co-founder Duncan on stage in Dubai Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha on 11 monthly bills a year. This week, the team go one better by hosting UK moved to the Crowne Plaza on Sheikh Mövenpick Jumeirah Beach Hotel, comedy heavyweight Jason Manford Zayed Road, where it still hosts shows. Grand Millennium TECOM, Els Club for two nights at the Crowne Plaza It wasn’t long before the enterprise in Dubai Sports City and – still Dubai from Sunday June 22-23. expanded to include regular gigs in – Zinc at the Crowne Plaza Dubai. It nearly didn’t happen though. Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain and Plus there are plans to follow-up this Starring a hypnotist and an armless Muscat, while other Dubai venues week’s Manford gig with more , the opening night was a conquered at different times include one-off big names. We’re clearly commercial success, but offered little Al Badia Golf Club, Al Manzil Hotel, keeping our fi ngers fi rmly crossed indication that the team would be the now closed Jimmy Dix (still one of for another 18 years. Any chance? celebrating the start of their 18th year our favourite LF venues of all time), Duncan and Gail win a Time Out ‘I hope so,’ says Gail. ‘We love the this month. the Greens Courtyard Marriott and Lifetime Achievement award job more than ever.’ ‘It was not the greatest show,’ The Irish Village. ‘If we don’t get shut down by admits Gail. And the second gig was The Laughter Factory really came then,’ Duncan laughs. ‘Eighteen such a disaster that Duncan, a of age though in 2000 after signing a was a good club comic,’ adds Duncan, years? Hopefully I’ll be in the South drummer by trade, wanted to pull the partnership with the UK’s iconic ‘but I never thought he’d be worth £20 of France by then.’ plug. ‘We died,’ he remembers. One Comedy Store club, who brought million [Dhs123 million].’ www.thelaughterfactory.com. Buy comic didn’t show and the main with them a guarantee of quality, By hosting all these trailblazing tickets for all upcoming shows from attraction was the now-famous road-tested talents. ‘We went from names, it’s no exaggeration to say www.timeouttickets.com clairvoyant Derek Acorah, who ‘spent being hit-and-miss to constantly The Laughter Factory has not just 20 minutes walking round the audience good,’ remembers Gail. Fun times: The Laughter telling people they had cancer.’ That partnership helped add to the Factory’s greatest hits Still, both gigs provided something staggering list of now-huge comics ‘It all started different for a then entertainment- who have played UAE shores on their 1997 starved expat audience. ‘It all started way up. Michael McIntyre, Ross really because 1998 Lee Mack really because Dubai was so boring 20 Noble, Frankie Boyle, Richard 1999 Dara Ó Briain years ago,’ says Gail. ‘There was Blackwood and Dara Ó Briain are just Dubai was boring 2000 Frankie Boyle nothing on TV and no internet – if a few of the comedy stars who played 2001 Daniel Kitson you went out it was just hotel cover The Laughter Factory before hitting 20 years ago’ 2002 Russell Peters bands with sequins and tight perms.’ the big time (see right for more). 2003 Thankfully Gail, then a wedding DJ, Among the highlights was hosting 2004 Reginald D Hunter convinced Duncan to give it another Russell Peters in 2002, who tempted entertained the region, but educated it. 2005 Ed Byrne crack and the pair never looked back. scores of hotel staff to abandon their ‘When we started, the audience 2006 Micky Flanagan ‘I just think it’s because we don’t do it posts and sneak in the back for the wanted a joke with a start, middle and 2007 Rhod Gilbert for the money,’ adds Duncan, talking novelty of seeing an Asian comedian a punchline,’ remembers Gail. ‘But 2008 Milton Jones of their enduring success. ‘It’s not a on stage. people come back and get more 2009 Michael McIntyre business – it’s a passion.’ Daniel Kitson however bombed comedy literate.’ 2010 Kevin Bridges Quickly established as a regular when faced with an expat crowd, Thanks to the pair’s hard work, 2011 Sarah Millican monthly happening with the while Frankie Boyle appeared barely today punters are guaranteed a 2012 Jack Whitehall now-familiar three-comic bill, gigs more than ‘a timid little boy’ back in consistent stream of 33 decent 2013 Sean Hughes were added at the Dubai Country 2000, says Gail. And the biggest name comedians a year, with regular Dubai 2014 Jason Manford Club, and within four years the night to date? ‘I thought Michael McIntyre gigs currently hosted at the For more Music & Nightlife stories, head to www.timeoutdubai.com

June 18 – 24 2014 Time Out Dubai 75