• The commission told Arab News it wanted to develop the comedy and live entertainment industry throughout the Kingdom and provide the opportunity for talented youth to take advantage of their skills under the guidance of experts and icons from stand-up

Nada AlTurki

RIYADH: It’s time for people in the Kingdom to crack some jokes following the Theater and Performing Arts Commission’s launch of a comedy competition open to all Saudi citizens and residents.

A $25,295 prize pool will be divided among the top three.

The national competition will visit different regions and provide the public with performances and live shows to uncover the country’s most prominent comedy talent, develop these acts, and highlight them to audiences across Saudi Arabia.

The first-place winner receives $13,313. The runners-up get $7,988 and $3,994. Competitors can participate in team performances, solo stand-up, and mixed comedy.

The commission told Arab News it wanted to develop the comedy and live entertainment industry throughout the Kingdom and provide the opportunity for talented youth to take advantage of their skills under the guidance of experts and icons from stand-up.

The competition will hold performances in Najran, Jazan, Abha, and Al-Baha in the south, Arar, Al-Jouf, and Tabuk in the north, Hail, Unaizah, and Riyadh in the center, Madinah, Makkah, and Jeddah in the west, and Al-Ahsa, Dammam, and Al-Khobar in the east.

“(The goal is to) root the idea of ​​the art of comedy as one of the most important forms of performing arts, as it is a beginning and qualitative leap for the performer’s career and strengthening their familiarity and reach within the community,” the commission said.

There are two competition categories.

The first focuses on live performances, with competitors performing a live set in front of their city’s selected judges. The second is video contributions, allowing competitors to perform their stand-up on tape for just a few minutes.

“(This competition) reflects the culture of the ‘tarfa’ (the local joke) stemming from the cultural and social diversity of the community. It also spreads the sense of humor found in daily stories, as well as the heritage of Saudi society in its various segments and regions,” the commission added.