One of the many things I miss living abroad is culture in my language, theatre, book talks, stand-up comedy… Fortunately, as an English speaker in Oslo, there are more opportunities than I should hope for to attend events in English. I love stand-up and have even tried out my jokes by taking a stand-up course, so I was very excited to see that Oslo Humorfest offered ‘Stand-up Comedy in English’ on Saturday night.
Not only was this comedy in English but it was at Salt which is one of my favourite venues in Oslo. It is a mess of saunas, stages and bars right on the edge of the fjord, but most of all it is just a cool place to hang out. However you look, however old you are and whatever you are wearing you’ll always fit in at Salt and feel part of the hipster elite.
I persuaded my long-suffering friend to come with me (she’s the one who I can always count on for an adventure… she will say yes before checking if we are watching or performing drag burlesque). We arrived a few minutes late and even though it was raining a few people were sitting outside steaming around firepits, we rushed past them, through the bar and into the wooden churchlike room. The event was sold out but we still managed to find space on a bench and grab a drink before the real fun began.
There were 5 comedians on the bill and the whole show was about 90 mins. With one exception the comedians were great deftly managing to be funny in a second language. They reminded me that my efforts at language learning display all the worst British stereotypes.
Hani Hussein Hani is a Norweigan and talked about travelling in East Africa. Her catchphrase ‘Oh no -we’re going to die’ felt familiar and equally applicable to my travel style.
Dharshika Christopher talked about dealing with a pushy mother, the pressure to get married and have children and other universal themes. She made me glad to see so many women on the bill.
Francisco Briceno The first guy on the bill. His material ranged from unfunny to slightly offensive. Homophobic jokes at Salt feel very much like a comedian not reading the room, however the audience seemed more bored by him than offended.
Helene Holtskog is moderately amusing talking about the joys of dating over 30 and the gradual slide in standards as one fails to meet Prince or Princess Charming.
Aleksander Økland restored our faith that men can be funny. Slightly awkward low key performer, I genuinely believed that every Saturday he slept in womens underwear with a note by the bed to ensure, that should he die in the night, people would understand he wasn’t always in panties and a camisole.
Pernille Haaland was hilarious. A brilliant compare rescuing the mood after Francisco and making us all feel we’d like to see more of her!
We stayed for an additional drink after the show hanging out in the bar with a mixed crowd somewhere between a fake blosoming Japanese cherry tree and a giant paper mache Smorg.