'The Khawatoons' prepare for an all-girls comedy show

The popular all-girls comedy troupe, The Khawatoons, seems to have found a second home at District 19, where, the group is once again set to take the stage this Friday, promising yet another night of laughter and relatability.

The performance on September 19 is scheduled to run from 7:30pm to 9pm, giving audiences 90 minutes of sharp, lively humour delivered through the lens of female comedians who have carved out their own space in a male-dominated industry.

The show promises a night "packed with fresh jokes, quick wit, and the kind of laughter you don't want to miss." It is rated to be 16+ and we can expect some adult comedy from the group, according to their Instagram.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Ashika Shaikh, group member of The Khawatoons said that it's a ladies only show. "It's a safe space for women to enjoy adult comedy," she said. "Our shows are super interactive and heavily dependent on audience participation so a women's only show allows the ladies to come out of their shell and let loose with us so that's what you should expect."

Tickets for the event can be purchased at Ticketwala and at the entrance of the venue. Each ticket costs Rs1,500. The event is organised by District 19 which is a multi-functional urban space that brings together individuals ready to stretch their minds with new experiences.

It is for like-minded individuals, both locals and travellers. It is also an alternative hotspot for gathering in Karachi with a space to create and share, co-work, learn and socialise.

The Khawatoons was founded in 2016 by Faiza Saleem. It was and still is Pakistan's first all-women comedy troupe, which has been going strong for nine years now and Ashika has been part of it for eight years.

Reflecting on working in a mostly male dominated comedy field in Pakistan, Ashika said that she has to work twice as hard to stand in line with her male counterparts. This is because they aren't just doing comedy, they're also actively fighting the stereotype that women aren't funny.

"So you're working extra hard to appease an audience that wants you to not be funny," she said.

Offering a more positive outlook on their personal journey, Ashika said, "We've been lucky and we've been at this for so long that we've found our voice and we've found our place and people." Their current troupe members consists of Faiza, Ashika, Jaweria Khan, Amtul Baweja, Nimra Ali Zaidi, Amtul Baweja, Shanzeh Ishtiaq and Zemal Amin.

The group has performed in different locations around Karachi throughout the year such as IBA city campus and Habitt City and is gearing for their next show. So gather your friends and expect some banter from the ladies this week!