Kemah Bob's FOC Fest Elevates Femmes of Colour in Comedy with Major London Event
Standup comedian Kemah Bob's face radiates enthusiasm as they describe their "passion project that has got really out of hand." In 2018, the Texan performer founded FOC It Up, a comedy club dedicated to femmes of colour, driven by a simple desire to collaborate with more people of colour "that weren't dudes." "It really was that simple," Bob remarks with a grin. What began as a one-hour slot within a festival organized by the cabaret company The Cocoa Butter Club has blossomed into a nurturing hub for countless comedians, featuring mixed-bill nights, a podcast, and Edinburgh Fringe shows. "I wanted to create a space that felt different—warm and inclusive," Bob explains. "Not in a performative way. In the way that's like: they're all here, and that's really cool."
FOC Fest: A Cheeky and Transformative Comedy Celebration
Never one to rest on their laurels, Bob is now preparing for the club's most ambitious venture yet: FOC Fest, a full-day extravaganza packed with workshops, masterclasses, networking opportunities, and culminating in a "banging" comedy show at London's Soho Theatre. Bob laughs while revealing the event's playful name: "FOC Fest! It is just so cheeky." The festival aims to empower not only aspiring comedians but also broader audiences. "Before I started doing comedy, I wasn't really sure of myself … I want other people to have access to that. It's a pretty sick job," Bob shares. They emphasize that humor can be a powerful tool for everyone to reclaim themselves and laugh through difficult times.
The day's schedule includes a standup masterclass tailored for trans and queer individuals, a workshop on navigating "big feelings" through comedy, and industry panels featuring guests like Nana Hughes and Julia McKenzie. While these sessions are open to all, Bob notes that "white audience members are encouraged to check their privilege at the door." Accessibility for the target audience remains a top priority: "So while we welcome other people to come along and take part, it's not actually built for them, you know? … I hope people get that."
Overcoming Challenges and Championing Inclusivity
Bob has long envisioned "an event bigger than our usual shows," but the journey to FOC Fest has been an "exhausting" struggle. Despite being a prominent voice in UK comedy for nearly a decade, the club operates without any external funding. "We have no financial backing; we are literally just using the extra of what we've made, because there's no money in live events at the scale we operate," Bob reveals. Their relentless work ethic is evident as they discuss outreach to companies for sponsorship—often met with budget constraints—and lengthy applications for funding schemes. "It feels like it is less worth it to put money behind initiatives like ours, whereas a few years ago it might have been more of a priority," they observe.
Reflecting on changes since the club's inception in 2018, Bob acknowledges that while it's now rarer to be the sole femme of colour on a comedy bill, significant progress is still needed. The 2020 death of George Floyd led to a temporary, "performative" shift: "All of a sudden I went from having no TV work to loads of it," Bob says. "But as quickly as that became important, it lost its importance when all the performative activism had been achieved … it kind of speaks to the fact that people still see our voices as a trend, right?"
Future Aspirations and Boundless Talent
Undeterred by challenges, Bob's ambitions for FOC It Up soar high. They dream of transforming it into an international institution, fostering cross-pollination with artists from cities like New York, India, or Berlin. Bob envisions expanding into larger venues and providing support for other comedians to fund their own projects. "This is the first FOC Fest, but it is certainly not going to be the last," Bob declares confidently. "The talent within our community is endless—and the hunger for this is boundless." FOC Fest is set to take place at Soho Theatre in London on April 18, marking a pivotal moment in celebrating diversity and creativity in comedy.
