The standup is taking their club night to new heights with an all-day extravaganza. They talk about new talent, learning to laugh in hard times and \u2018performative activism\u2019<\/p>\n
Kemah Bob\u2019s face lights up when they tell me about their \u201cpassion project that has got really out of hand\u201d. In 2018, the Texan standup created FOC It Up<\/a>, a comedy club for femmes of colour, after wanting to work with more people of colour \u201cthat weren\u2019t dudes\u201d. \u201cIt really was that simple,\u201d they grin. Starting as an hour-long slot within a festival run by the cabaret company The Cocoa Butter Club<\/a>, it has grown into a nurturing space for many comedians: they\u2019ve hosted countless mixed-bill comedy nights, launched a podcast and taken shows to the Edinburgh fringe. \u201cI wanted to have a space that felt different \u2013 warm and inclusive,\u201d says Bob. \u201cNot in a performative way. In the way that\u2019s like: they\u2019re all here, and that\u2019s really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n Not one to stand still, Bob is preparing for the club\u2019s biggest event yet \u2013 a full day of workshops, masterclasses and networking opportunities, finishing with a \u201cbanging\u201d comedy show at Soho theatre. Bob laughs when announcing the event\u2019s name: \u201cFOC Fest! It is just so cheeky.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/aff9b231f470369472154517986f323e5b3df9bd\/0_1172_3896_3117\/master\/3896.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=837023260daafea31426222dcbef811a\" "\\"\u2018Just")
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