ED2015 3/5 Reviews ED2015 Comedy Reviews

Shazia Mirza – A Work In Progress (Shazia Mirza)

By Vicki Baron | Published on Sunday 16 August 2015

Shazia Mirza’s show is a combination of comedy, social commentary and informed declarations.  Her intelligence and conviction are evident throughout her performance, whether talking about Radio 2 or the controversies surrounding ISIS. Regularly re-assuring the audience that she understands their position as “white middle-class Guardian readers”, she discusses the labels associated with being a Muslim woman, describes what it means to be a Muslim woman, but also talks about why people get offended by political incorrectness. This combination is confusing and I suspect the audience is left wondering whether or not they are allowed to have formed an opinion, and it makes the set difficult to engage with, even though Mirza’s assertive style is fascinating. Challenging and intriguing, but too confrontational to be wholly comfortable.

The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, until 30 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Vicki Baron]