Think it’s a Stand up solo show? Think again. This immersive comedy, Banana Beard, from Su Mi, invites you all on a surreal misadventure of absurdist sketch, untamed thrash metal guitar solos and imaginary costumed personas.
Banana Beard is part of Soho Theatre‘s upcoming Soho Rising 2024 festival, a celebration of new work created by comedians, writers and performers who have taken part in their Writers’ Lab, Comedy Lab or Cabaret & Drag Lab programmes. Buy tickets for the show here at Soho Theatre on Saturday 10th February.
Your show promises an immersive comedy experience that blends stand-up, musical, character, and clown comedy. How did the idea of combining these diverse comedic elements come about, and what challenges and rewards did you encounter in weaving them together?
Banana Beard is a true reflection of my comedic journey and my life. A plethora of stories and skills I have collected over my life span. Music is the beat to my soul, like a best friend forever giving. Heavily into alternative /punk music, I started playing guitar / drums when I was around 12 and sporadically throughout my life, so when I had the opportunity to start it again in my 30s, it has been a gift and a reminder how my body has the incredible power of muscle memory. Super nostalgic and freeing.
Growing up I was forever that super nerdy Asian kid / weirdo freak who was obsessed and inspired with anything macabre and strange which is why when I started doing stand up, it changed so so drastically, as it just didn’t feel like me to always just stand there (though the power of just doing so is forever admirable). Clowning has been my friend and foe. My body and mind is always changing so the relationship to that art form will also, but I’m here for the ride. The importance of being the representation in that world is prevalent to how I feel about comedy.
The description of your show mentions a surreal misadventure with absurdist sketch, untamed thrash metal guitar solos, and imaginary costumed personas. Can you share a specific moment or scene from the show that epitomizes this unique blend of elements?
Without giving too much away, at one point I am a homosexual vegetable with a whip, hardcore dancing to nu-metal. Yep.
The show is described as a celebration of the human experience, particularly focusing on growing up as an immigrant child of South-East Asian descent in East London. How does your personal journey inform the comedic narrative, and what aspects of this experience do you feel resonate most with your audience?
There is very little to no representation of British South East Asian Women (Malaysian) in comedy and almost zero in Alternative Comedy. My comedy heroes have very rarely looked like me growing up and the irony is that I have so many friends like me. Punk ass Asian women with tig ol biddies, every shade and size born and bred in London. My audience and comedy is a very white world however there are many aspects of my life to do with my queerness, my journey with mental health, my childhood etc that will resonate with personal experiences of others. My Malaysian background and upbringing as an Asian Woman will be the parts in which it will be insightful.
Exploring stand-up, musical, character, and clown comedy in one performance is ambitious. Can you share any anecdotes or challenges you faced during the creative process, and how did you navigate the balance between the different comedic forms?
Ambitious to some, but to me just fun! Comedy is a multitude of thrilling highs and melancholic lows. The exploration of testing out material is always terrifying and sometimes my ideas are so farfetched that when they come into fruition, let’s just say that it’s a very interesting process. I have an act where I dress up like a dirty tissue on the bedroom floor. When a gig / event opportunity comes up , it’s actually easier for me to transition to what I want to do. I never ever want to be limited as a performer, which is something that I’ve worked hard to achieve and which is always a work in progress for me.