Sukh Ojla: For Sukh’s Sake

Picture of Polly Allen

Polly Allen

There are plenty of Fringe shows about mental health (not that I’m complaining – as a comedy fan with depression, I tend to seek out these shows so I can find ‘my people’), but this one stands out for being as poignant as it is funny.

Sukh mainly draws on two periods of depression and anxiety in her thirties, one of which saw her try a controversial treatment last year, having exhausted meditation, journalling and joining a gym, and tired of feeling “detached from myself” and “numb”.

She’d struggled to talk to a GP in her tight-knit Punjabi community, where doctor-patient confidentiality can often go out the window; she neatly riffs on the added complication of living with her parents and being an only child. Going to try this treatment (which I won’t spoil for you) involves pushing herself mentally, physically, and giving her mum the excuse she uses when heading off on a Tinder date.

Despite the serious subject matter, there’s strong humour throughout. She balances micro annoyances, like the price of a journal at Gatwick Airport, with the all-consuming worries that saw her reach rock bottom in the first place, and a teenage incident she’d tried to brush under the carpet. Sukh is a fun and fiery narrator who has paced and plotted this hour just right, and she never hits misery memoir territory.

With a show this consistently funny, I didn’t expect to find myself crying at the end, but For Sukh’s Sake wraps up with some very empowering words – much more than the “tiny bit of hope” she wants to give – and a gesture the whole audience gets behind. As I turned to leave, I saw at least three other audience members smile as they wiped away tears – proof that Sukh’s show can speak to you on many levels.

★★★★★

Sukh Ojla: For Sukh’s Sake is at the Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose at 17:15 until 25th August. For tickets and more information click here!

Funny Women are at the Edinburgh Fringe with five shows, from 19th – 23rd August, a Funny Women Awards 2019 semi-final, a Stand Up to Stand Out workshop and a Meet Up. Come find us!

There’s still time to nominate a women-led show for the 2019 Funny Women Awards’ Best Show Category! The show with the most nominations will be picked! Nominate a show you have seen or your own show by 31st August here! 

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Funny Women NextUp…Comedy Shorts Award

Are you a budding Director? Producer? Screenwriter? Are you collaborating with friends to make a funny video? Then we are looking for YOU!

If you have a short film or sketch that you think is hilarious, then enter your work for our Comedy Shorts Award to be in with a chance of winning some life-changing support and mentoring from comedy professionals.

WHAT KIND OF FILM ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

A 1- 6 minute film that can take the form of anything comical. It’s a great opportunity to show us your creative flair and have fun!

WHO CAN ENTER?

This award is open to all women filmmakers and content developers. The film must be an original narrative created, produced and devised by a woman, or women, although male cast and crew members are allowed.

ARE THERE ANY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MY FILM?

Yes – we require all films to be 6 minutes or under, to be entirely original dialogue, to not feature brand logos and most importantly, to only use music with the written consent of the performer and/or publisher either personally or via the PRS system https://www.prsformusic.com/ .

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HOW IS IT JUDGED?

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WHAT CAN I WIN?

2021 Funny Women Awards Prizes

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