London comedy scene gets a vital boost from foc fest
Kemah Bob isn’t just running a comedy club; they’re building a movement. What started as a single hour-long slot in 2018 has blossomed into FOC It Up, a haven for femmes of color in the UK comedy scene, and now, a full-fledged festival poised to shake up the industry.
A space forged in necessity
The genesis of FOC It Up was deceptively simple, Bob admits with a wry grin: “I just wanted to work with more people of colour…that weren’t dudes.” Initially a one-off within The Cocoa Butter Club’s cabaret showcase, the project quickly outgrew its humble beginnings. It evolved into a regular series of mixed-bill nights, a podcast, and even Edinburgh Fringe appearances, all underpinned by a core value: genuine inclusivity. “I wanted a space that felt different,” Bob explains, “warm and inclusive, not in a performative way, but in a way where everyone feels seen and valued.”
Foc fest: workshops, masterclasses, and a 'banging' show
Now, the culmination of years of work arrives: FOC Fest, a one-day event at London’s Soho Theatre on April 18th. The agenda is ambitious, packed with workshops, masterclasses, and networking opportunities, culminating in what Bob promises will be a “banging” comedy show. Beyond the laughter, the festival aims to provide tangible support for aspiring comedians and a platform for broader conversations about identity and humour.
The workshops cater to a diverse audience, with a stand-up masterclass specifically for trans and queer individuals, and another designed to help participants navigate “big feelings” through comedy. Industry panels, featuring guests like Nana Hughes and Julia McKenzie, will further enrich the experience. And while the event is open to all, Bob is clear on the priority: “White audience members are encouraged to check their privilege at the door.” The intention, she emphasizes, is to create a space genuinely centered around, and built for, the target audience.
Navigating funding and facing industry trends
The journey hasn't been easy. Despite Bob’s decade-long presence in the UK comedy circuit, FOC It Up operates without external funding, relying solely on the club’s own earnings. “We have no financial backing,” Bob states plainly. “We’re literally just using the extra of what we’ve made, because there’s no money in live events at the scale we operate.” The lack of corporate support, coupled with a sense that initiatives like theirs are viewed as fleeting trends rather than sustainable platforms, adds another layer of challenge. Bob recounts outreach efforts that were met with polite rejections: “It’s not been in anyone’s budget.”
The rise in visibility following George Floyd’s death in 2020, while initially welcome, proved to be a double-edged sword. “All of a sudden I went from having no TV work to loads of it,” Bob recalls, “but as quickly as that became important, it lost its importance when all the performative activism had been achieved.” The experience underscored a frustrating reality: the perception of their voices as a mere trend, a temporary blip on the industry’s radar.
A vision for the future
Despite the hurdles, Bob’s vision for FOC It Up remains expansive. They dream of an international institution, a global hub for artists from diverse backgrounds—from New York to India to Berlin—fostering cross-cultural collaboration. Ultimately, they hope to create a network that empowers comedians to fund their own work, transforming FOC It Up from a local haven into a global catalyst. The talent within our community is endless—and the hunger for this is boundless.