![Shazia Mirza – Original Review | Review by Steve Bennett Shazia Mirza – Original Review | Review by Steve Bennett](/images/photos/small/sm_shazia_mirza_16.jpg)
Shazia Mirza – Original Review
Note: This review is from 2008
Review by Steve Bennett
Shazia Mirza has all the warmth of the Arctic shelf, treating almost all of humanity with a haughty disdain – and that includes the audience.Of course, many successful comics have made their unpleasantness an intrinsic part of their act, but it’s usually coupled with a stinging tongue, or at least a knowing wink. But with Mirza it’s too often delivered with a ‘can’t be bothered’ attitude that rarely puts an audience at their ease. Instead she bluntly delivers her material.
Such lack of charm doesn’t do anything to soften the blow of her aggressively harsh jokes. If there’s any irony in her nastiness, it’s certainly not signposted.
The lack of subtlety extends to much of her gags, too. Which are often just bold, bald statements about Muslims in burkhas looking like letterboxes or fat people eating everything. That’s about the limit of it.
Most contempt is reserved for the Primark-shopping poor, with their adopted phoney black accents. Again, there’s not much depth to it, although she seems more natural with this sort of material that’s more sneery than outright bitter.
Occasionally, she will surprise with a sharper line - an aside about parents’ evenings at the inner-city comprehensive where she once taught stands out, simply because there was some twist to it – but such moments are so rare they deserve a conservation order.
With no instinctive funny bones, Mirza still enjoys her fame for being one of very few female Muslim comics that goes far beyond her talent.
Ealing Comedy Festival
Review date: 14 Jul 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Live comedy picks
![](/images/photos/small/ms-mark-silcox-women.jpg)
Gig of the day
Mark Silcox: Women Only
Manchester Creatures Comedy Club
from 21:30 - 22:30
![](/images/photos/small/sm-sarah-millican-22.jpg)
Book Now
Sarah Millican: Late Bloomer
Carlisle Sands Centre
Thursday 1st Aug from 20:00Book now
![](/images/photos/small/comedy-store-players-24tour.jpg)
Coming Soon
The Comedy Store Players
Comedy Store
Sunday 28th Jul from 19:30
![](/images/photos/small/rr-red-richardson-bugati-tour.jpg)
Book Now
Red Richardson: Bugatti Live
Birmingham Glee Club
Wednesday 2nd Oct from 19:30Book now
![](/images/photos/small/lg-lloyd-griffith0-23.jpg)
Gig of the day
Lloyd Griffith: Baroque and Roll
Salford Lowry
from 19:30
![](/images/photos/small/fish-thundernerds.jpg)
Book Now
No Such Thing As A Fish: Thundernerds
Dublin 3Olympia Theatre
Tuesday 10th SepBook now
![](/images/photos/small/tw-tom-ward-delusion.jpg)
Coming Soon
Tom Ward: Choose Your Delusion
Chelmsford Theatre
Wednesday 6th Nov from 20:00
![](/images/photos/small/sk-sarah-keyworth-eyes.jpg)
Book Now
Sarah Keyworth: My Eyes Are Up Here
Brighton Dome
Thursday 14th Nov from 19:30Book now