A British comedian in Shanghai holds an optimistic view about the future development of emerging stand-up comedy art form in China, as spectators are flooding back to clubs after the easing of COVID regulations.

Though not a traditional Chinese art form, stand-up comedy is gaining recognition and popularity in China primarily with a younger age bracket of 19-35, and people are more easily attracted by the real-time interaction between the performer and the audience.

Harry Hussain, a stand-up comedian in the city, said he started this career after the COVID-19 pandemic, taking this kind of talk show as a way to vent. And he hopes to further his career as the stand-up comedy scenes continue to expand.

"I don't think I can claim to take all the credit for that. But since the end of the pandemic, everyone has been flooding back into the clubs. Shanghai is the capital of comedy in China, that's why I've come to try and improve myself," Hussain said.

The Rock-and-Roast Marketing White Paper shows over 18,500 stand-up shows were performed across the country in 2021. These shows attracted over two million audience members and revenue reached about 31 million U.S. dollars.

Being a British himself, Hussain said he keeps trying to create great punchlines that echoes better with Chinese audience by talking with Chinese comedians.

"I think that's the biggest challenge I have -- trying to make sure I have references that they can relate to them. And I'm trying to do lots of workshop with other Chinese stand-up comedians, and get my ideas with them," he said.

The small venue Hussain performed has only 150 seats, but every seat has been filled as comedians weigh in on social issues and address the reality of living in present day China.

"I think a lot of people do come here, and their main reason is just to have a place where they can laugh, feel relaxed. People want to hear stories that are related to their life, they want to hear the same pressures, they want someone to mock those things laugh about those things. That makes them feels better to know every one is going through the same thing," Hussain noted.

The comedian said that the styles of comedians vary, and as the Chinese audience is growing mature day by day, more people will come and find their own right taste of stand-up comedies.

"I think everyone is experiencing it for the first time, and I think in future what we will have is we will be able to do more headlining shows, more tours as the audience actually matures, and they will be able to accept more. And hopefully, we can take some of the comedies we're doing here, take them abroad as well. Everyone of us comedians has a different take on life. There are different kinds of personalities, different kind of people. So I think there is something for anyone and everyone. I think we will have more and more people coming, and they will find a kind of comedian they like," he said.