Winnipeg Comedians to Watch
Winnipeg’s comedy scene has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade. Where once comedians in the 204 would jump at the opportunity to flee to Toronto, many have decided to stay and bolster the local scene. And it’s paying off.
Today, Rumor’s Comedy Club highlights just a few of the Winnipeg comedians to watch out for.
Paul Rabliauskas
Absolutely lovable. That’s the best way to describe Paul Rabliauskas. Hailing from Poplar River First Nation located on Treaty 5 land, Rabliauskas has made a name for himself nationally appearing at all major Canadian comedy festivals including Just For Laughs, JFL42, and JFL Northwest, and landing his own TV show, Acting Good, airing on CTV/Crave.
While Paul’s star is rising, he’s always sure to remind audiences where he comes from. Acting Good is set in a fictional reserve based on his home in Poplar River. The series highlights the relationships and community of reserve life with a tongue-in-cheek nod to the broader relationships between Canada’s first peoples and non-indigenous communities.
Jordan Welwood
Jordan Welwood is a rascal with a bit of a bite. He gets down in the dirt, and he’ll bring you with him. He’s not afraid to reveal his absurd inclinations, and he’ll call you out if you think you’re shit doesn’t stink.
It’s that kind of confident vulnerability that has landed Jordan spots at big comedy festivals like Just For Laughs and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, as well as a recent appearance on season three of CTV’s Roast Battle Canada.
Mike Green
A veteran of the Winnipeg comedy scene, Mike Green specializes in crowd work. As he gets to know audience members, the audience gets to know Mike and his self-serving take on the world around him.
Mike has burst on to the national scene recently with appearances at all three major Just For Laughs festivals, as well as producing his own three-part TV series, Comedy Battle Royale, streaming now on Fibe TV.
Sarah London
Beneath Sarah London’s sweet and innocent exterior lurks dark demons. She’s like a doll that tries to kill you in your sleep. The juxtaposition is endearing, and her jokes, incriminating. She plays with the crowd like a psychopath toying with their victim.
Her unique style has propelled her to local notoriety, making waves in the Rumor’s Comedy Club Roast Battles and appearing on Comedy Records’ Winnipeg Comedy Compilation album.
Benji Rothman
Lightning fast and sharp as something very, very sharp, Benji Rothman is a gunslinging comedian of the highest order. His jokes are expertly written, but his riffs with the crowd are just as impressive and hilarious, no doubt informed by the cultural literacy he’s earned from his extensive travels. Rothman has performed all over the world, including the Seatlle International Comedy Competition and the Melbourne Comedy Festival.
Jeff Sinclair
Drawing on his experience as an english teacher abroad, Jeff Sinclair brings a frank worldliness to the stage, bathed in self-deprication. Jeff is here to tell you that good and bad people exist everywhere you go, and that humor is one of the true universal languages. Jeff has toured all over the world from South Korea to South Dakota, recently hitting the road with Kyle Kinane and Matt Braunger for their North American Roommates Tour.
Matt Falk
Matt Falk is having trouble getting used to being a new dad, which tracks, because he’s having trouble getting used to everything else. This Mennonite man-boy is easily outraged, and while at times it feels like his simple life may be coming apart at the seems, we find that his world is held together with strong threads of hope and empathy.
Matt recently released his third stand-up album entitled Not Good, and you can see his two Dry Bar Comedy specials on the Dry Bar YouTube channel right now. And be sure to come see Matt live the next time he headlines at Rumor’s.
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Five more to watch
Winnipeg’s stand up comedy scene is thriving, and there are more than just those seven names to keep an eye out for. Here’s a quick list of five more Winnipeg comedians to hunt down.
Rajat Kashyap - Sometimes it takes an outsider to make you aware of your foolishness, and that’s exactly what Rajat Kashyap specializes in. Originally from India, Rajat sees our North American sensibilities with fresh eyes that he then rolls with mockery.
Jaydin Pommer - One of the rising stars of Winnipeg comedy, Jaydin drifts in and out of character creating an captivating dynamic with the audience. If Molly Shannon did stand up, it would look a lot like Jaydin Pommer.
Chad Anderson - Walking boldly through the no-man’s land of race relations, Chad Anderson emerges unscathed. Think Michael Che meets Pete Davidson.
Tyler Penner - Self-loathing and loving it. Tyler Penner is like an unattended unlocked phone: you might find out some things you didn’t want to know, but you're secretly glad that someone else thinks these things, too.
Andy Noble - Andy finds the deep existential implications in the most mundane childhood memory or romantic mishap. Not too dirty, but not too clean, Andy Noble is juuuust right.
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Where to find Winnipeg’s best comedians
All of Winnipeg’s funniest comedians perform at Rumor’s Comedy Club. Rumor’s proudly boasts a roster of all-local hosts, and many of the top comedians in Winnipeg have become regular headliners at our club.
And they hold their own! Rumor’s brings in some of the best stand-up comedians from around the world and our local comics keep pace performing right along side them. Stand-up comedy in Winnipeg is stronger than ever, so check out our event listings to catch your favorite Winnipeg comedians.
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