Queer Comedic Artists in Vancouver You Should Know!

I couldn’t imagine living during ~these times~ without having a sense of humour. 
Imagine? Imagine living through a global pandemic! Ha ha ha...

Well, if you do not, cannot or forgot how to laugh in 2020 - don’t fret. 

Vancouver has the best audiences and thriving stand up communities in Canada despite the challenges of rent, flaky people and now, a pandemic! Stand up comedy in Vancouver is a glamorous mix of club comics, touring comics, and alternative comics that are constantly challenging and inventing what is funny. 

I HIGHLY and DEEPLY recommend that you get to know these hilarious, unforgettable queer comics in Vancouver. (Trust me, I am also a comic and writer in Vancouver.)

So now, in no particular order . . . here are the unforgettable, Queer comics in Vancouver you should know!

DJ On

DJ On’s cadence and aloof stage presence will inspire you, make you belly laugh and fall in love! His stand up is deeply personal, and is influenced by his experiences as a queer person of colour. He combines his innate comedic wit with his experience as a touring musician. When you see DJ perform, expect hilarious pop songs detailing his romantic sagas, mental health and other inspiring takes on the human condition that will make you go “I feel seen.” 
Instagram: @dqojr and @nonlaband - Twitter: @dqojr

Tin Lorica

Tin Lorica humbly arrived on the Vancouver comedy scene in 2018 and was nominated for “Best New Comer” in the 2019 Vancouver Comedy Awards. They are a stand up comic, poet, producer and author. Their comedy is a combination of earnest and observational storytelling that details their life, love and experience as a queer, non binary filipinix person from Alberta. Their intelligent and sharp joke writing makes them a stand out in the Vancouver comedy community. Also you just can’t miss their tiny bangs and signature look. 
Instagram and Twitter: @selfiemixtape

Sasha Mark

Sasha Mark is a glamorous, queer Indigenous comedian orignaly from Winnipeg. Mark admittedly wanted to be a playwright before pursuing comedy, and landing a role on  APTN's The Laughing Drum. Yes, that is right! Sasha wrote and performed for this satirical TV show in 2019. This makes him one of the most successful stand ups in the country. His writing is a sexy mix of politics, queerness and silliness that will leave you wanting more. I’m so excited to see what he does in his comedy career! 
Instagram: @sashmark

Nathan Hare

Nathan Hare is another one of the most original and inventive stand ups in Canada. This guy commits to the bit. Before the pandem, he was on stages across the country as one half of @sodaftn improv, in addition to performing and producing shows in Vancouver. Hare’s innate and exciting humour will make you laugh out loud - even if there are no longer stages and stand up shows as we once knew. I highly recommend you follow him for viral tweets and posts that will make you “???” then “:):);)” I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next! 
Instagram: @nathanhare, Twitter: @nathanharearenice

Jessica Pigeau

Jessica Pigeau has always been a self proclaimed deeply bizarre human being and her comedy is absurd, observational and eccentric. She has a fresh and original comedic perspective and watching her perform will make you go :O but then :D! 
“I don't have a particularly interesting life, just interesting thoughts about my life.” she says and trust me, Jessica Pigeau is interesting and unforgettable. You won’t regret following her career. 
Instagram and Twitter: @Iamnotalungfish 

Emily Bilton

An Emily Bilton performance is a high energy screamtastic adventure. Her stand up is storytelling + physical comedy + opera! Her musical comedy and talent will likely be some of the most entertaining ten minutes of your life. She got started in stand up at the ripe age of 19 while she was dating a boy (BEFORE A BIG REALIZATION ABOUT HERSELF) who was doing open mics. He sucked. She also regularly performs as Toddy, her drag persona aka “Vancouver’s Next Eliminated Drag Icon”. (Her words.) 
Instagram and Twitter: @operatwink

Jackie Hoffart

Jackie Hoffart is a deeply important Pisces icon, and the host and producer of New Moon Comedy Show. New moon was one of the most popular and significant comedy spaces in the Vancouver PC (pre-pandem). Her stand up is a mix of storytelling, oversharing and goofy-cute-awkward vibes! Without producers like Jackie, ~alternative~ and experimental stand up in Vancouver would be even more difficult to create. She was also a judge for the 2020 Junos Awards for Best Comedy Album.
Instagram and Twitter: @ostensiblyclear  

Steve Sidi

Steve Sidi hosts and produces “‘Queer As Jokes’ at Yuk Yuk’s in Vancouver. Sidi is a multitalented artist and emerged from Second City in Toronto. You probably also heard that he is one half of @thetiltcomedy duo. His stand up is sharp + silly + too real. He is one of the most prominent queer comedians in the city and is always working on something @comedyhereoften. 
Instagram: @stovesidi and @comedyhereoften  

Darcy Michael

Darcy Michael is a Canadian comedy icon. Ask, everyone! His incredible stage presence and storytelling make his performances addictive and compelling. You NEED to absorb his Crave comedy special Darcy Michael goes to church and his debut comedy album Family highs . It is the perfect combination to dull the sharp blade of COVID boredom. 
Instagram and Twitter: @thedarcymichael and take a look at his literal Wikipedia page.  

Emma Cooper

Emma Cooper hopes to avoid being branded as any ‘type’ of comic. 
“I was telling gay jokes before I fully realized I was queer, hosting a show about sexual assault before I could name that I had endured a rape adjacent experience and was laughing about my wavering place on the gender spectrum before I understood I was non-binary.” 
Cooper hosts and produces the comedy show “Rape is Real and Everywhere”. Not only are they a hilarious powerhouse, but their charm and wit makes their comedy so fun and easy to watch. Cooper says comedy is how they process the world, and reminds us to acknowledge the silly, the uncomfortable and the unjust so we can laugh together. 
Instagram: @emmacooperhuman, Twitter @emmacoopstar

Joanne Tsung

Joanne Tsung is a refreshing and naturally talented writer/comedian. Watching her perform is a gorgeous gift and I highly recommend you follow her work. Tsung was recently a part of Well Rounded, a documentary that celebrates BIPOC, LGB2TQ+, disabled and/or fat bodies! Her stand up reflects her experience as a queer first generation immigrant settler from Taichung, Taiwan. You’ll want to be her best friend after you see her perform.
Instagram: @jtsung

Steev Letts

Steev Letts' material is homocentric, almost raunchy, almost cringey, and original (His words). 
“There are still so many aspects of gay life that are considered taboos/conversation killers and I truly believe jokes are effective tools for chipping away at those stigmas.” 
Well he’s making jokes, and they are FUNNY. Lett’s has incredible stage presence and a confidence that has been earned by performing for the last 5 years.  He is an absolute energetic delight to watch on stage and you can stream his debut comedy album Burger Queen!
Instagram and Twitter: @steevletts

2020 is a trash fire - but live comedy IS back (in some places!). Haven’t you heard?

At the time of writing this, independent venues in Vancouver are hosting shows with the proper safety protocols. If you don’t feel comfortable watching live comedy just yet, or don’t live in or near Vancouver; follow these rising queers on social media for lots of laughs!