Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival’s Funny Arabs brings acclaimed New York based Arab comedienne Maysoon Zayid to Liverpool and London for the first time this November, playing Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre on the afternoon of Sunday 25 November and London’s SOAS Brunei Theatre on the evening of Friday 23 November.

Funny Arabs: a laugh about living in the West and being Arab at the same time. From marriage to politics, family to TV, food to romance and celebrity culture.

Actress and professional stand up comedian Maysoon Zayid has featured on Comedy Central’s The Watch List and PBS’s America at a Crossroads: Muslim Comics Stand Up.

Maysoon, who lives with Cerebral Palsy, draws on her experience of disability and the trials of being a female American born to Palestinian parents for her comedy act. She has been quoted as saying “comedy is pain plus time.”

Maysoon has performed stand-up in top New York clubs, and has toured extensively in the USA as well as Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. In April 2001, she founded Maysoon’s Kids, a scholarship and wellness program for disabled and wounded refugee children and orphans in Palestine.

She is the co-founder and executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and currently a full-time on air contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann on Current TV.

Razanne Carmey, Director of Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival said: “LAAF is excited to bring Maysoon Zayid to Liverpool and London to raise the profile of Arab comedy in the UK.  Obviously most UK Arabs speak English and have learned to laugh at English jokes and now it’s time for the English to experience Arab humour! We are delighted to also be spreading the word of Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival in London by taking Funny Arabs there in addition to our home city. Arabs have had their fair share of bad publicity – often underserved – but comedy can help turn around this prejudice, change public perceptions and forge a greater understanding.”

A great night of comedy from a unique lady.