Continuing our Fringe previews

Continuing our series previewing some of the comedians heading to the Edinburgh Fringe at the end of the month, here are ten comics of Asian origin:

1. Urooj ​Ashfaq: How to Be a Baddie

Mumbai-based comedian Urooj Ashfaq first performed in the UK in 2023, scooping the best newcomer award at that year’s Fringe while she was at it. She was the first person of South Asian heritage to win that title since Arj Barker in 1997, and the first India-based artist ever to win the award. That Edinburgh show won her reviews praising her for being endearing and warm, even if the content was relatively mild by British standards. Well this year she’s out to challenge that, aiming to be a ‘bona fide bad girl and edgelord who at times mentions sexy things and topics’.

Monkey Barrel, 6.25pm

2. Prashasti Singh: Divine Feminine

  Growing up in a patriarchal family, Prashasti Singh had one dream – to become a patriarch herself. Now inching towards 40 (but pretending to be 30) she reckons she does it. But did she make the right life choices? In India, she’s previously appeared on the reality formats Comedy Premium League on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video’s Comicstaan, as well as doing stand-up on Ladies Up, a Netflix series of 15-20 minute sets.

Underbelly Bristo Square, 8.45pm  

3 Alvin Liu: Love Letter To A Sandwich

Chinese comedian Alvin Liu was once arrested for a joke and fined the equivalent of £3,000, which explains how he came to London. This 45-minute show is his take on the quirks of cultural assimilation and surprises of viewing the West through Eastern eyes. 

Laughing Horse at City Cafe, 6.55pm

4. Shamik Chakrabarti: Despite Appearance

Indian comic Shamik Chakrabarti admits he looks like a sensible, practical man who might be good at chess. But he claims he’s a scatterbrain nowhere near as responsible as he appears. That’s what he explores in his Fringe debut.  

Gilded Balloon Appleton Tower, 7pm

5. Anu Vaidyanathan 

Anu Vaidyanathan has had a varied career: engineer, first  Asian woman to complete Ultraman Canada (a 10k swim, 420k bike ride and 84.4k run), screenwriter and comedian. She’s back at the Fringe with a work in progress show on juggling family, friends, work and a pet octopus.

Just The Tonic Nucleus, 6.30pm, July 31 to August 11. 

6. Are You Lovin' It?

The work of Japanese theatre group Gumbo is described as ‘frantic, high energy, grotesque and full of black humour’, with this wacky, cartoon-like satire on Western globalisation set in the world of fast-food chain WacDonald’s – clearly not based on any real-life organisation. It’s been doing the rounds for a few years now, picking up plenty of acclaim along the way. 

Zoo Playground, 7.20pm

7. Manoj Prabakar: Extra Ordinary

A decade into his comedy career, Chennai’s Manoj Prabakar is now well-established for his personal observational comedy. In Extra Ordinary he ‘stumbles through language, wokeness, post-colonial confusion and life’s biggest inconsequential debates’.

Greenside @ Riddles Court, 6.20pm

8: Chris Nguyen: It’s Pronounced Nguyen

Full marks for the title of this show from the Vietnamese-Australian comedian. When he performed this show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival earlier this year, it came with a content warning: ‘There will be no stereotypical tales of immigrant struggle, no emotional climax or deeper meaning. Just an hour of jokes.’

Just the Tonic at The Caves, 9.05pm, August 1 to 11 only 

9. Asian First Dates

London-based Chinese comedian Lance Mao still finds himself single and living with his mum at 32. Here he suggest 32 reasons why that might be as he talks about being part of an immigrant family, culture clashes and, of course, first dates 

Hoots @ The Apex, 3.30pm

9. Slomosexual

Nebulous Niang’s a Chinese comedian from conservative Singapore, where she’s half of an inter-ethnic lesbian couple raising Gen Z kids. This show, being performed outside her home country for the first time, mixes honest storytelling with multimedia.

Laughing Horse @ West Nic Records, 2.30pm, August 7 to 15

10 Winsie Chen: I'm Not a Feminist – Part 2

Winsie Chen was raised under China’s communist propaganda but became a banker and a tech-burnout who is  now ‘drowning in Girlboss slogans’. Here she covers feminism, fertility and failure as she  uestions who modern empowerment is really for.

Just The Tonic Legends, 11,10am,  August 10 to 24

Published: 17 Jul 2025