Shamik Chakrabarti on his most memorable gigs

Indian comedian Shamik Chakrabarti will be bringing his first international stand-up show, Despite Appearances, to Soho Theatre later this month. Here, he recalls some of his most memorable gigs.

First gig

It was at a pub in Bengaluru, India, on a Thursday night. Sign-ups happened on a 'first come, first serve' basis, and I managed to get  the last spot - 15th on a list of 15 comics, doing five minutes each. 

I had every word written down on paper in that way newbies always do. The plan was to regurgitate them ASAP on stage. There were six people in the audience when the show began. There were three left when I went up, of which one was coerced into staying by the host (‘Come on! We have one act left!’). 

The jaded threesome were kind enough to let me vomit out my thoughts with minimal disturbance by way of laughter. It was a largely unpleasant experience that I then decided to partake in as often as possible.

Worst gig

Open lawn on a Sunday afternoon, performing at a new microbrewery to a largely inebriated audience, some of whom were rolling on the grass, playing with their dogs, as I said the words I was contractually obliged to say. 

A classic MC introduction (‘time for some rib-tickling comedy’), followed by said MC standing right next to me and staring into my soul as I do my bits for no one in particular. 

At one point mid-set, a man walked up to me from the back of the lawn and handed me a Polaroid photo of myself. He was hired to do that, and nobody told him to wait till I was done. 

I was thankful for his interruption, as it got a laugh and a couple of barks from the audience. Generally speaking, ribs remained un-tickled that day.

Worst heckler

I was once hosting a line-up of comedians at a pub where a couple of drunk husbands decided to impress their drunk wives by getting offended at something one of the acts said. 

They heckled the guy who did the joke but when I went back up, they decided to get on stage and take over the gig, shouting drunk sounds into the microphone. 

We had to call the gig off because the drunk party was a significant percentage of the crowd, but everyone on the line-up got an entire pizza instead of the two slices we were promised by the pub. This made the comics happier than the gig going well could have.

Best heckler

An audience member had a laugh like a seal being flogged to death. The laughs were essentially heckles, since they could not be ignored. They actually did most of the legwork in making that set work that day. 

The owner of the laugh tried to stifle it and laughed at the fact that they were trying to stifle it. This made it sound like the seal had finally succumbed to one of the blows, but then it had immediately risen from its grave and continued its grisly struggle.

Worst journey to a gig

I was running late for a gig on a rainy day, and  had just got out of my cab at the venue when a motorbike splashed some rancid-looking puddle water with expert precision into my mouth through my N95 mask (it was right after lockdown)

 I’m pretty sure I held a disgusted expression throughout the gig. I’ll never fully get over receiving that unsolicited immunity booster.

• Shamik Chakrabarti will be performing Despite Appearances at the Soho Theatre, London, from April 25 to May 3. It will also be playing the Gilded Balloon at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe

Published: 14 Apr 2025