Saad Haroon

Saad Haroon is a Pakistani comedian, actor, and writer.[1][2][3] Saad is the creator of the first ever Pakistani improvisational comedy troupe "BlackFish",[1] he was the first Pakistani Stand Up comedian to perform in English in cities across the whole of Pakistan in his tour "Saad Haroon: Very Live".[4] Saad created and hosts the first ever English Language Comedy TV show in Pakistan, "The Real News".[5]

Contents

Improvisational comedy

Saad's latest endeavours in improv comedy have led to the creation of "SHARK" in 2008, the first improv troupe to tour Pakistan and perform Long Form Improvisational Comedy.[6] SHARK's tour included performances in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore where audiences throughout Pakistan witnessed musical forms of improv comedy and a long form improv structure known as the Harold for the first time.[7] SHARK's lineup includes Saad Haroon, Danish Ali, Umair Pervez, Jaffar Ali, Daniyal Ahmed, Sohaib Khan, and Sana Nasir.[8]

In 2002, Saad created BlackFish, Pakistan's first improv troupe, which was chosen to represent Pakistan in an international Theater Project at Contact Theate in Manchester, England.[9] Saad stepped down as director of BlackFish in 2005 to pursue other projects[10] but has continued to work on other projects with Contact Theatre.[11]

Saad is also creator, co-writer and director of ‘We’ve made contact’; a half improvised half scripted original format play created for the British councils Connecting Futures Project which was performed in Manchester, England.[12]

Saad still teaches improvisational theatre and holds workshops in corporate communications and also teaches people eager to learn improvisational theatre.

Stand up comedy

"Saad Haroon: Very Live" was Pakistan's first ever solo English language Stand Up Comedy Tour which was then made into a TV series of the same name.[13] Apart from shows performed all over Pakistan, Saad has also performed in Dubai and is planning an international tour.

Saad Haroon regularly performs stand up and the Open Mic Nights which he organizes in Karachi.

Open mic nights

Saad Haroon arranges Open Mic Nights which features aspiring comedians, writers, poets, and other talented enthusiasts.[14]

The Real News

The Real News is Pakistans first ever English Language comedy show in Pakistan.[5][15] Created and hosted by Saad Haroon, the show pokes fun at current news events using political and social satire.[15][16]

References

  1. ^ a b Making a difference with a smile -DAWN Images; July 30, 2006
  2. ^ http://asap.ap.org/stories/364214.s
  3. ^ Saad Haroon - enter, the matriculate
  4. ^ INSTEP Magazine
  5. ^ a b Playground | The Real News
  6. ^ http://www.saadharoon.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18:new-improv-comedy-troupe-shark&catid=5:news&Itemid=21
  7. ^ http://www.thegreenkaleidoscope.com/Who%20said%20comedy.html
  8. ^ http://sonyarehman.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/%E2%80%98shark%E2%80%99-bites-the-capital-culture-of-lahore/
  9. ^ Fish out of water -DAWN Images; August 1, 2004
  10. ^ Pakistan : Khaleej Times Special Report
  11. ^ Contact Theatre: Showcase View
  12. ^ Performing Arts - British Council Pakistan
  13. ^ Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
  14. ^ The Second Floor » t2f events
  15. ^ a b Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
  16. ^ How Pakistan's Satirists Poke Fun, Politically - washingtonpost.com