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Born in Tehran, Shappi Khorsandi was bought up in London after her family fled Iran following the Islamic Revolution as her satirist father, Hadi, criticised the Ayatollah.

She started comedy around 1997, and made her first appearance at Edinburgh in 2000 – as part of a triple-hander show with Russell Brand and Mark Felgate.

She made her solo debut in 2003, returning in 2006 and 2007 – the year she was nomianted for best breakthrough act at the Chortle Awards.

She has appeared on a number of Radio 4 programmes, including Quote... Unquote, Loose Ends, You and Yours, Midweek, Just A Minute, The Now Show and The News Quiz.

A book about her childhood experiences of growing up in London in the Seventies is due to be published in spring 2009.

Shappi Khorsandi: Dirty Looks And Hopscotch
Live Review
Soho Theatre

At the end of this hour detailing her disastrous relationship with a musician, Shappi Khorsandi asks: ‘Will you come back another time, and I’ll do my show for you?’

It’s an acknowledgement that this is just as much a necessary vent to get some of the sordid details of these unpleasant eight months off her chest as it is a jolly comedy routine. Dirty Looks And Hopscotch is powered both by her anger at how she was treated and her disappointment in herself for allowing such an obviously unsuitable partner to string her along.

Good comedy comes from the heart, as this so unashamedly does, although there are also times when the show feels in need of a stronger, more detached, directorial hand to guide the material through the more embittered and awkward moments.

Khorsandi has reason to be embittered, though, as her one-time rock star lover – who she declines to name, perhaps on legal advice rather than to preserve his reputation – was controlling, repeatedly unfaithful and an all-round shitbag.

But it’s not all ex- bashing, as she ponders why she stuck with him, despite being aware of his myriad faults. Perhaps it was because she needed an ego boost following a difficult divorce; perhaps it was because he was a charismatic master manipulator like all the most sociopathic cult leader;, or perhaps it was some long-standing insecurities instilled in her by her ultra-conservative, over-protective Iranian mother who was not the best at making sex seem normal, what with her calling it ‘whore’s business’.

The narrative of this slow-motion car crash of a relationship holds the interest, while the more entertaining parts of the show often relate to Khorsandi’s general attitudes to relationships, and those ingrained in society: from the princess fantasies every primary schoolgirl has, to how first romantic encounters no longer depend on the alcohol-hazed last dance at the club as it did in her youth, to the attitudes of bitchy female columnists who seem callously bent on making a 38-year-old single mum such as her feel unattractive.

However, the gender politics is underplayed in favour of the personal story; and although the tone is of an incorrigible self-obsessed gossip, some pointed lines nestle in the well-deserved character assassination of the ex; from explaining what lonely hears seeking a ‘good sense of humour’ really mean to some sharp comments about how young and plentiful the musician’s conquests were.

A few segments don’t fit well with the story, such as the old school project about life in Iran she shares with us, the dodgy Zimbabwean accent, or her fretting about never wanting to offend anyone – which is not the No 1 attribute you want in a comedian. Nonetheless, Khorsandi has the honesty to put her own issues on display here, making it her most personal show since her breakthrough 2006 offering, Asylum Speaker.

The unexpected climax – if we can use such a word in a show that’s not afraid to be explicit about sex – raises more questions than answers about her love life. But then there’s always the 2013 show for that....

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Well, I think Shappi is my cup of tea, even if the reviewers below don't. Her humour tends to the sweet side and she has a charming, confident delivery.

Donna Scott, July 2009

هه هه هه هه، درست چند لحظه ي پيش بود كه شاهپرك رو شناختم، توي بي بي سي داشتن باهاش مصاحبه ميكردن و من خوشحالم چون يك دختر خيلي پيرين زبون رو شناختم و فهميدم كه يك هنرمندي هست كه در انگلستان در حال هنرنماييه و مايه ي افتخار ايراني ها. به تو افتخار ميكنم شهپي «تكاور»ا

تكاور مط, July 2009

Utterly charming performer with woeful, uninsightful, cliched material.

Brian Suda, April 2009

I cannot believe how she was ever considered to appear on Live At The Apollo. I saw her live a couple of weeks ago and considering how rich her background is in culture, all she could talk and make jokes about was how her family aren't "normal". Isn't that obvious in a Christian state? She talks about them being "hopeless at texting", a piece of pedestrian material by all newcomers that she's disguised and tried to fit her mould. Not clever and didn't really work to my mind. Although, she did have some neat (unexpected) gags thrown in for good measure, but others i felt were verging on the boundaries of transferred racism: 'I wanted to know what the weather in India was like, so i called my bank.' I'm not sure a white middle-class comic would have left the stage unharmed with a line like that in his or her act. Overall, I find that she just masks pedestrian material to jump on the bandwagon of the cultural comedians.

Stacey Rostram, April 2009

Material was a bit light, which is forgivable if you've got some charisma. Unfortunately Shappi doesn't, and it was just a bit uncomfortable watching her. Granted the room wasn't great, with people a bit shy to sit near the front so that must be a challenge for comedians. Rambled a bit much with nothing to say, actually said "I've run out of jokes", despite "10 years in stand-up"? Either needs to prepare more, or do something else. Unimpressive.

Gordon Jackson, September 2008

Took a while to warm up before she looked comfortable on stage. Whilst it wasn't hilarious material, it was entertaining. I'm not sure that I'd pay to see her own show, but she is well worth seeing as part of a multiple line-up.

Jo Phelan, July 2008

When your life's as fascinating as this, you could surely do more than a shy titter and a giggle about how members of your family are Pretty Silly Really. I just couldn't find much to admire here.

Michael Monkhouse, January 2008

Clearly not as good as she thinks she is. Flat, weak material and her personality isn't engaging enough to compensate. Later, I actually chuckled over her act - remembering how bad it was.

John Fernando, October 2007

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