PJ Comedy Fest aims to build bigger stage for Malaysia’s performers

DeStage founder William Lim says the inaugural PJ Comedy Fest is about creating opportunities for performers while making live entertainment more accessible.

PETALING JAYA: Comedy may be the headline act, but community-building is the bigger ambition behind PJ Comedy Fest, the inaugural five-day multilingual comedy festival presented by DeStage in collaboration with Kam Productions.

Taking place from July 29 to Aug 2 at DeStage @ Jaya One in Petaling Jaya – formerly known as The Square – the festival’s headline attraction is the Comedy Gala, featuring Joanne Kam, Shamaine Othman, Kavin Jay, Andrew Netto, Papi Zak, Fattah Azeem, Ruoh Peng and Mad Sabah.

Across the five-day programme, audiences can also catch stand-up, improv and storytelling performances by Kuah Jenhan, Farid Azmeir, K-Shao, Jasmine Rajah, Brian Tan, Prakash Daniel, Keren Bala Devan and the acclaimed Pinball Monkeys improv troupe.

PJ Comedy Fest concludes with a family-friendly production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by EM Drama, rounding off a festival that aims to celebrate comedy, creativity and the diversity of Malaysia’s performing arts scene.

However, DeStage founder William Lim said the festival was also about creating opportunities for performers while making live entertainment more accessible.

“As we are organising the event ourselves, we’re covering the operational costs,” Lim said.

“We can keep ticket prices affordable, at around RM38, although ticket sales alone don’t cover the full cost of running the event.”

Rather than focusing solely on commercial returns, Lim views the festival as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts.

“We have other businesses that support what we do, so this is our way of giving back to the community. It’s about creating opportunities rather than making a profit,” he said.

That philosophy extends beyond comedy. Lim hopes DeStage can also become a platform for emerging musicians and performers, and is open to collaborating with educational institutions.

“We welcome collaborations. If any colleges or educational institutions are interested, they’re welcome to get in touch with us, and we can explore opportunities to work together,” he said.

The inaugural festival brings together performances in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil, reflecting Malaysia’s multilingual identity. While managing productions across multiple languages presents logistical challenges, Lim believes the greater challenge lies elsewhere.

“The main challenge is reaching more people so they know about the event,” he said.

“Many people don’t realise there are comedy shows available in different languages. We hope to raise awareness and encourage more people to attend.”

The festival has also been programmed to broaden comedy’s appeal beyond its traditional adult audience. While the earlier performances are intended for those aged 18 and above, the final day shifts to family-friendly entertainment.

“We want to show that comedy isn’t just for adults,” Lim said. “We hope to encourage younger audiences to come to the theatre, enjoy comedy and develop an interest from a young age.”

Lim said that if the inaugural edition is successful, he hopes PJ Comedy Fest will become an annual fixture.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to make it more international by inviting comedians and performers from overseas to be part of the comedy festival,” he said.

Beyond comedy, DeStage also hopes to nurture Malaysia’s independent music scene by giving emerging artists opportunities to perform without the financial burden of venue hire.

“Hiring venues can be expensive, especially for newcomers, and we don’t want them to bear those costs,” Lim said.

“We have a selection process, and those chosen don’t have to pay anything. In return, they gain valuable experience and a chance to showcase their talent.”

Looking further ahead, Lim hopes DeStage will continue serving as a launchpad for homegrown talent.

“It is my hope that we become a platform where indie musicians feel encouraged to perform, improve their craft and showcase who they are,” he said.

“We want to provide a space where emerging artists can gain confidence and connect with audiences, helping the indie scene continue to grow.”