Simon Brodkin and Zach Margs to appear in one-night-only comedy festival in London
Wicked's Emma Kingston joins the line-up to provide musical entertainment at The Chosen Comedy Festival on 19 May
Louisa Walters is Features Editor at the Jewish News and specialises in food and travel writing
Five comedians… one singer… one night only. The Chosen Comedy Festival, a much-loved new York initiative, is wending its way here to London next month on its mission to celebrate Jewish identity through the universal language of laughter.
“By spotlighting top-tier Jewish comedians from around the world, we create unforgettable events that honour our heritage and foster connection – one joke at a time,” says founder Dani Zoldan. “Our goal is to unite audiences through humour, culture, and pride, while providing a platform for bold voices to uplift and inspire.”
Here in London this translates to British comedians Zach Margs, Simon Brodkin and Debra Tammer, American comedian Ami Kozak and Israeli comedian Shahar Cohen sharing a stage with British theatre performer Emma Kingston, currently appearing in Wicked as Elphaba.
The Chosen Comedy Festival began as a one-night-only Jewish comedy celebration in New York City but has since evolved into a full-blown cultural phenomenon. It is now the ultimate gathering for Jewish comedians and comedy lovers from all walks of life. Equal parts irreverent and uplifting, Chosen is where tradition meets stand-up, and bubbe-approved punchlines collide with boundary-pushing satire.
Created by some of the biggest names in Jewish comedy, including stand-up veterans, online sketch sensations, and late-night favourites, the festival champions comedic voices that are bold, authentic, and deeply relatable – even when they’re roasting your cousin’s wedding playlist or riffing on gefilte fish conspiracies.
After sold-out shows in New York, Miami and LA, the festival is finally crossing the Atlantic to bring its signature blend of chutzpah and hilarity to London on May 19. Whether you’re Jewish, Jew-ish, or just Jew-curious, this is your chance to be part of a night where tradition gets a comedic remix and everyone’s invited to the simcha.
Come for the laughs. Stay for the inside jokes you didn’t realise you already understood.
The Chosen Comedy Festival is at Gillian Lynne Theatre on Monday 19 May at 8pm. Book tickets at standupny.com/chosencomedyfest
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
