Vancouver is the city that launched a thousand comedians. Okay, probably not one thousand but certainly a lot.
Despite the recent pandemic-era shuttering of every comedy-eccentric venue, Vancouver remains a hub for standup, improv, and sketch comedy with a diverse cast of characters leading the way. At the 2022 Junos, local Andrea Jin won comedy album of the year for her set "Grandma's Girl," and previous winners include fellow Vancouverites Jacob Samuel and Ivan Decker.
Local comedians are also at the forefront of a thriving podcast scene that has grown in no small part because performers were left without physical stages and so took their talents to the largest metaphysical stage there is: the internet.
Now, as things have started to open up again we have both online and in-person comedy running in conjunction so we have rounded up some of the best comedians and shows to check out and where to find them.
Comedians
Andrea Jin
Juno award-winning comedian Andrea Jin is wickedly funny. Her comedy album can be streamed on Spotify and she also has a TikTok channel with over 122.4K followers where she posts short clips of her material, many of which are from the Little Mountain Gallery which is sadly no more. Largely Jin talks about her personal experiences growing up with her grandparents, coming to terms with her sexuality, and being an Asian woman, but delivered in a deadpan way that is characteristic of an entire sub-genre of comedy Millenials and GenZ have created at the expense of our collective traumas. It's good stuff, follow her on Instagram for show announcements.
Ola Dada
This rising star is originally from Fort McMurray, Alberta (which you would know if you watched his audition for Canada's Got Talent) but he lives in Vancouver now so we can claim him as our own. Ola Dada was a semifinalist on Canada's Got Talent, has his own episode in season one of the CBC Gem TV series The New Wave of Standup, and performed at Just for Laughs this past May. He has no upcoming live appearances announced at the moment but be sure to follow his Instagram for updates and in the meantime, you can listen to his comedy album "Dada Plan" and watch videos of his previous stand-up work through his linktree.
Maddy Kelly
Maddy Kelly is one-third of the trio behind the podcast "Let's Make a Sci-Fi" (also starring our baseball writer Ryan Biel) which New York Magazine named one of the 10 best podcasts of 2022 (so far). She's appeared on The Standup Show with Jon Dore, season two of The New Wave of Standup, The Debators, and on the Just for Laughs stage several times. She is playing a show tonight June 3, at Comedy After Dark which has shows every Friday. Check her out before we lose her to LA.
Tin Lorica
If you have any interest in comedy or Vancouver which I can only assume you do because you're reading this, chances are Tin Lorica has popped up on your TikTok feed. The non-binary legend is the host of Millenial Line, also has a New Wave of Standup set, and a Just for Laughs original called Grossly Underfunded Circus. Their style of standup is dry observational comedy while dressed as a Filipinx Micheal Cera.
Alistair Ogden
Alistair Ogden hosts a live comedy show on the first Friday of every month called Comedy Pants at The China Cloud on Main street. Many of the other comedians on this list have made appearances there. The series started in 2018 and features stand-up and sketch comedy performances in an intimate, indie venue that always sells out.
Charlie Demers
You may not recognize Charlie Demers but chances are you've heard his voice as a cartoon on Netflix or on CBC performing stand-up or as a panelist on The Debators. You have also seen his books Vancouver Special, Primary Observations, and Noonday Dark which releases tomorrow. The author, actor, and comedian is a triple threat and has a live show coming to the Rio on June 10th. While much of Demers' comedy is lighthearted his is also an activist and a pillar in the community.
Live Comedy
MOTN
A tattoo shop by day and a comedy club by night, MOTN (pronounced Mah-Tin, like Martin if you were a British royal) hosts regular stand up, roast battles, a wheel of comedy show presented by Ola Dada Productions which is happening again on June 8th. The next mixed bill stand up performance is called Short Kings featuring comedians Danika Thibault, Marito Lopez, Aaron Read, and Chris Locke on June 10th.
Comedy Here Often
Comedy Here Often is an independent comedy company in Vancouver. Upcoming shows include the Biltmore June 9 and at 604 Studios June 24, 2022.
Comedy After Dark
Comedy After Dark is a great resource for finding shows in Vancouver with weekly performances and lineups all over the city. Expect uncensored, unhinged, and well, dark material. But in the funniest way possible.
