Biting, playful — daring comedians let new generation laugh at itself

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In 2024, among performances in smaller theaters, stand-up comedy saw the largest increases in both the number of performances and box office revenue, rising by 53 percent and 48 percent, respectively, according to a report by China Association of Performing Arts.

In Shanghai, the number of stand-up comedy performances soared to 15,000 in 2024, a report released in May by major online ticket selling platform Damai found.

Across the country in first-tier cities like Beijing, and Guangdong's Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as in emerging first-tier cities such as Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Nanjing in Jiangsu province, and Xi'an in Shaanxi province, stand-up comedy shows in small theaters have been springing up. The number of performances continues to rise, and the audience base is steadily expanding, industry figures said.

"People gathering together to joke with each other, turning both happy and unhappy moments into laughter, has become a common part of modern life," said Yin Hong, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication.

"This is one of the key reasons why stand-up comedy shows have gained popularity in recent years," he said.

"Unlike in the past, Chinese people now have more space and confidence, embracing humor that is kind, sarcastic, and playful. This shift is especially evident among the younger generation," he added.

The professor said another reason for the surge in popularity of stand-up comedy shows is their focus on the lives of young people. Some of the current popular programs have not only featured professional comedians but also people from various fields, making the content more relatable, Yin said. They have "localized" the comedy themes, closely aligning them with relatable real-life topics and addressing social issues.