Crossing Lines: Behind the Scenes of the Debated Laugh-Fest in the Gulf State

"There were sex jokes, and LGBTQ+ material. It's really unusual to see this kind of comedy within the Kingdom."

According to an international attendee summed up the performances she's seen at the first ever Riyadh Comedy Festival.

"The reception was phenomenal," she noted, in the wake of shows featuring US comedians Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr.

Performance Parameters

The woman - identified as Sara - said the comedians avoided discussing the Kingdom's debated rights issues.

"People here don't care about these matters," she remarked. "Otherwise, they wouldn't live here."

Internationally, views vary considerably.

Well-known performers such as Kevin Hart, Jimmy Carr, Jack Whitehall faced strong backlash from fellow artists for accepting invitations at the event.

Audience Reactions

Among the earliest attendees present was an audience member, using a pseudonym.

He saw performances by Djalili and Burr with companions, and is booked in to see Jimmy Carr soon.

"The opening act for the headliner featured a extended portion which was focused on sexual content."

The spectator, who lives in Riyadh, said he was shocked to hear jokes like this in a country which is known for being ultra-conservative socially.

"It's astonishing people were saying such material in the Kingdom," he stated. "Countless locals haven't seen a live comedy show in their lives, much less something so explicit."

Show Content

But the jokes was enthusiastically accepted, he noted. "Within the crowd, Saudi female attendees, and everyone was chuckling."

The famous comedian's performance was similarly debated, as reported by the attendee, with numerous routines about trans people.

She said this material is "unprecedented" to witness this type of humor in the Arabian nation.

According to spectators that Djalili poked fun at features of Kingdom society.

"He joked about traditional face coverings, and ladies behind the wheel. He also presented a segment about capital city attitudes."

Content Restrictions

Additionally, there are the avoided subjects.

Spectators consulted said the events "totally sidestepped" any discussion about the national authorities.

Ahead of the festival, watchdog agencies claimed the showcase constituted a move by the Kingdom's government to "improve its image.

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, who declined an offer to appear, shared excerpts from a contract that reportedly contained prohibitions against any content that could "disparage or slander the Kingdom's monarchy or religion.

English entertainer noted content limitations are uncommon for entertainers to encounter such performance boundaries.

"I've only heard periodically at shows at colleges," she mentioned. "However, these are rare not the norm."

Moral Questions

The timing of the festival also hasn't been lost on its critics.

Its dates, from the end of September, overlap with the seven-year mark of the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi.

"The same guy who is paying [the comedians] is the same guy who compensated those people to bone-saw the journalist," said American comedian Marc Maron.

"There's that old saying, that comedy speaks truth to power," she commented. "Many performers consistently support of free speech, and to appear in Saudi Arabia, where dialogue encounters restrictions, is notable. This creates moral questions."

Payment Issues

Some comedians have been transparent about what's drawn them to the Kingdom - money.

"The financial offer enough money to overlook concerns," US comedian Tim Dillon mentioned during an interview.

Dillon, who claims he was dismissed from the event subsequent to his remarks, further mentioned he had been presented with significant payment for his set.

US star Shane Gillis mentioned during an interview he had refused generous payment to participate in the showcase. "I took a principled stand," he stated.

"People don't choose performing for the financial reward," comments the comedian.

"The individuals specifically getting opportunities are established stars," added Falcone. "Recent times haven't been a challenging period for successful performers."

National Development

Performers join others who have accepted significant payments from the Kingdom's authorities in the past few years.

Being a country that has been reliant on petroleum, the Kingdom is attempting to broaden its economy in multiple sectors.

The national development strategy, championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, features allocating funds into {sectors such as|areas including|fields