Immigrant Diaries feels like an antidote to the chaos of 2017 – a positive hour of expert storytelling sure to enlighten and entertain.
It is a very simple premise: a rotating line-up of comedians and storytellers join Kershi on stage to tell their personal narratives of immigration. She guides us through the show with warmth and charisma, warming up the audience and opening with some personal stories before handing over to her guests.
I can only review the performers I saw, but all three – Spring Day, Craig Quartermaine and Jimmy O. Yang – were excellent. They covered a huge range of subjects; from ableism in Japan to U.S. border patrol, via the history of Aboriginal communities in Australia. Enormous credit must go to Kershi for assembling such a diverse and intersectional show, really emphasising the particularities of immigrant experiences. Immigrant Diaries offers us a chance to hear stories we would never usually encounter. Even ignoring the absolutely hilarious jokes, which justify the ticket price alone, these stories are simply fascinating.
After all, as the show reminds us, if you go back far enough we’re all immigrants. Kershi must be commended for devising a show that never allows us to lose sight of this. Regardless of the line-up, funny, honest, politically engaged stories are guaranteed. Immigrant Diaries feels like an antidote to the chaos of 2017 – a positive hour of expert storytelling sure to enlighten and entertain.
