A fabulous and irreverent hour from one of the Queens of Malaysian comedy! Funny, single and in her 40s, Shamaine dives into stories of modern womanhood, cultural confusion and being raised by liberal Muslim parents. All while owning her nepo baby status as the daughter of Malaysia’s longest-running sitcom producer.
How would you describe your show to someone who knows very little about it?
It’s a silly, naughty and raunchy show from a modern, Malay, Muslim woman.
What makes it stand out and why should people see it?
It’s a show that almost got me disowned by my father. Okay not really but he did send me a stern text after watching it. He said it was borderline pornographic. His words, not mine!
How long was the process from idea to writing to stage? Any challenges along the way?
The show was written as we were coming out of the pandemic and continues to evolve to this day.
What attracts you to comedy?
The truth. In Malaysia, the truth is heavily censored and comedy is one of the art forms or spaces Malaysians go to seek real, raw, truth.
How would you describe your relationship with the audience and what do you love the most about live performance?
I love taking audiences on a journey through my life. What makes live performance so special to me is that no two shows are ever the same and that’s because of the audience. I write 95% of my jokes, but the other 5%? My audiences have helped me create them over the past 13 years
Who would you say have been your biggest inspirations?
My biggest inspiration is …surprise,surprise..my father! He produced Malaysia’s longest running sitcom and because of this I was always surrounded by comedy. He used to take me to watch stand-up shows of Malaysia’s earliest pioneers in comedy. When I told him I wanted to do stand- up comedy, he bought me a book of jokes not realizing that I need to be writing my own jokes! I don’t know why he is shocked that I have turned into a ‘blue’ comedian when he was known for double entendre gags in his sitcoms.
Other comedy inspirations are Ronny Chieng and Ali Wong. I think they both share similar Westernized- Asian observations.
What are three things that would surprise people to learn about you?
- I’ve completed reading the Quran, front to back. (However, I have no idea what I’ve I read as it’s all in Arabic and I would just get brief summaries from my teacher after each chapter)
- I’ve studied several traditional Malay art forms such as wayang kulit, mak yong and gamelan. (You might have to google those first two!)
- I’m also a screenwriter, sometimes actor/producer/director.
What do you love most about performing at MICF?
It’s sort of a homecoming for me as I studied performing arts at Monash Uni, Melbourne from 2004-2006 and I used to watch festival shows every year as a student. I watched different forms of comedy and it definitely inspired me to get into sketch, improv and stand-up comedy back in Malaysia.
What comes after the MICF for you?
I will still be developing (aka trying to get funding) a visual exhibition where I combine stand-up comedy and visual art, working on my first ever feature length screenplay and I’m writing for a TV food competition aiming to settle the never-ending culinary rivalry between Malaysia and Singapore once and for all.
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/who-s-that-girl/
