Documentary on Palestinian comedy and identity to screen at The Dock

A powerful new documentary exploring life, identity and humour in Palestine is set to screen next week, followed by a live video Q&A with the filmmakers and one of the comedians featured in the film.

Palestine Comedy Club will be shown on May 21 at 7pm, with audiences also hearing from comedian and co-founder of the Palestine Comedy Club, Alaa Shehada, and director Alaa Aliabdallah following the screening.

The 96-minute documentary follows six Palestinian stand-up comedians from cities and regions including Haifa, Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron and the Golan Heights as they attempt to tour a comedy show across Palestine and Israel.

The film asks what humour looks like in a place shaped by occupation, checkpoints and political division — while showing how comedy can become a way of connecting people through shared experiences.

There is no established comedy club scene in Palestine, and the comedians face major challenges travelling between communities divided by walls, borders and security checkpoints. Each comedian also has different travel permissions, making the logistics of touring increasingly difficult.

Despite the obstacles, the tour gathers momentum as audiences flock to performances and demand for the shows grows. The documentary later follows the comedians to London, where they are invited to perform a series of gigs beginning on October 7, 2023 — the same day war breaks out in Gaza.

Suddenly, the performers find themselves trying to connect with international audiences while processing devastating events unfolding at home. According to the filmmakers, the documentary is ultimately “a quest to find joy in the tragedy of Palestinian life, and create connection against the odds through a common love of laughter.”

The project grew out of work by producer Charlotte Knowles, who previously worked as an investigative journalist in Palestine between 2017 and 2019. Knowles said she was inspired after seeing a live comedy performance featuring Palestinian comedians alongside UK comedian Mark Thomas.

Speaking about the experience, she said comedy revealed a side of Palestinian life she had not encountered through journalism alone. “Comedy had the potential to do what journalism would always struggle to do: make these stories personal and intimate,” she said. The screening is rated 12A. Tickets are priced at €12, with €10 concession admission available.