Lebanese comedian John Achkar is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time as a performer, with his show His country is collapsing. He’s having a baby. So obviously, this is the right year for a Lebanese comedian you’ve never heard of to try English stand-up for the first time. I wanted to find out more!
“Fresh off a sold-out Arabic tour across 85 cities, John has decided, for reasons he’s still figuring out, that now is the time to try stand-up in his third language. He hasn’t checked if Edinburgh is ready. He hasn’t checked if his vocabulary is ready. But somewhere in the chaos, he’s betting on one simple theory: we’re all carrying the same stories, just told in different languages.”
Where: Just The Spare Room at Just The Tonic at The Caves
When: 6-30 Aug
What can you tell us about your show? What is it about and where did the idea come from?
I avoided doing stand-up in English for years because of my accent. English is my third language, and I thought that was the problem.
Turns out, it wasn’t the accent. It was the fear. So now I’m doing it anyway.
This show is about a Lebanese comedian who only performs in Arabic, whose country is collapsing… who just became a dad… and who thought, “Perfect time to try a new language.”
How would you sell it to audiences in one paragraph?
A Lebanese comedian who has sold out theatres in Arabic has decided to risk his reputation by trying stand-up in his third language for the first time. Why? Great question. I don’t really know either. But somewhere between becoming a father, living in a collapsing country, and constantly restarting life, I realised we all have the same stories hiding underneath different accents. If you’ve ever doubted yourself, started over, moved countries, or wondered why life keeps adding new levels when you haven’t finished the previous one, this show is for you.
Do you enjoy participating in the Fringe? And do you have any moments you particularly remember?
I came last year as an audience member, so this year already feels very different.
What I remember most is a piece of advice I heard: “It’s about the story, not just the laughs.” Which is great, because I tested some parts in Canada and Canadians laughed at everything. I have no idea if the jokes are actually good.
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
Failing in a new market. I’ve failed in many places and many phases of my life. Relationships, careers, businesses, moving countries… Why stop now?
But seriously, there’s something exciting about starting from zero again. Nobody owes you anything and every laugh feels earned.
What’s next for the show?
If it goes well, I will tell everyone this was part of a long-term strategic plan. If it doesn’t go well, I will say it was an experiment.
Ideally, I’d love to continue performing it internationally because the whole project started with a simple question: can stories cross languages? Edinburgh is the biggest test possible.
Worst-case scenario, I’ll have an entirely new Arabic special about the year I decided to try stand-up in English.