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l FliURSDAY, AUGUST lit 2015 - WATERLOO CHRONICLE . 15 he, '*”*’ ,, “_"â€" “cw iv,_7, 7,777,777Au ~Â¥>flma Giving them something to laugh about 0 O Crooked Sword Comedy marks second year of brmgmg laughs to the area syno- VIIANAC ; Chronicle Stag id you hear the one about the f Dguy who started a comedy ’ ’ 7; production company because '“ é ' t: he had a hard time finding some- i , t where to share some laughs? ‘ g g A,“ It's not the punch line to a joke, it's one of the reasons Sohail Cha- 4' - ' tur. a Wilfrid Laurier student, started 7 Crooked Sword Comedy more than ‘ '- l , ' twoyearsago. I . e 5‘- _ ' ’ ‘ . Charm, who is heading into his . t} fourth year in economics. actually gs . ' ‘ was an amateur comedian himself l looking for venues to develop his ' stand-up comedy skills. “5 When Yuk Yuk's went belly up . "~ ' locally, there were no stages where \ aspiring comics could test their r 4 --- material and hone their craft, so if ‘ ‘ (lhatur thought why not give it a try, 6“ _ “i wanted a place to practice ‘ ~__ comedy after the Yuk Yuk's closed - down,’ he said. “it closed down in ' it- June 2014 and i started (Irooked ‘ Sword the week after" 7‘ ““ He managed to get some time for “‘\£;‘ his comedy show at the Churchill " Arms pub in Waterloo bringing in top local talent while firming tip the ground to bring in outside talent. That opportunity to do bigger shows With a firmer commitment fame mm the refurbished Boat- Sohail Chatur, founder ol Crooked Sword Comedy, has built a steady audience for his production company that tries to bring laughter to local audiences house venue in Victoria Park .°' mm“ mm ‘lt’s been going strong ever Swords I just wanted to start some» pursuea passion for comedy performer with the comedy patrons they do, the. emotional release and since,” said (Jhatur. thing in a town that had no open He was still making people laugh. in attendance. the sound it generates can leave you Two years of trying to build a fol mikes or real opportunity to do stand he was just doing it through the acts lie said it's become cliche that we gasping for air. lowing and an audience also has up." said Chatur “But as Crooked that he was bringing. don't recognize our Canadian mmâ€" His economic training also kicks (alight him a few lessons about show Sword grew i realized the level oftalr “i realized that l eiiioyed bringing edy talent until they go to the US in as he looks to expand to different business ent [ was bringing in and the numâ€" laughter to people and I didn't have and make it big. or perhaps get a spe venues in the fall and connect with The first one is that you can be hers in the audience we were bringâ€" 10 be the 0"? doing it 0" me “380" (“I on CBC “f the Comedy Network. corporate clients IOUUNK fOI' 507m" master oftwo things the show and irig in, I realiied I wanted to be a pro said (Jhatur ‘Bringing great arts to Even then they are hardly household thing a little different when it comes the business pan writ-r tili‘tilnt‘dy make the audience laugh meant inst names “lhere are a lot ofcomedians to team building ' While he came from a performing "I had to make the derision it] as much tome ' who have paved the way for (Tana "When i look back about how background in high school. and still wanted to do that. i couldn't also be "1? best pan (if it Ig that ht‘ it?“ than t'fimt'dv and nflhml)’ “10W 1h?" much l've learned. from marketing loves comedy with a passion he‘s pvrfrirniing ' to scout the talent and see the next names, and that's really depressing," to booking, it's cool how much I've finding in more fulfilling bringing He admits it wasa tough decision. KW?“ (‘OdeY art “it“? down iht‘ “aldflhamf leamed.’ said (Ihatur '1 don't PW" those laughs to Iotal audiences than but he found a talent for organizing pipe Plus he gets to sit in the aiidi Good comedy is an art form itself. think ofthisaswork anymore" trying to main-them laugh himself show and hooking up and (timing ence and laugh along With them‘ and people don't realire hOW hard For more information visit “When I first started ( rooked lllml( s that would still allow him to sharing the sutress in matching a it is to make people laugh But once crookedswnrdfom. . www.water|oochronicle.ca : From the latest information on local politics. to minor sports scores, . R Q to what's going on down the street, visit www.waterloochronicle.ca for it all. $51; ‘fifi‘w ‘ 5mm rig your “immunity since ”156 -f . WATERLOO CHRONICLE