Comedy clubs enliven the laughter scene in Hyderabad

Audience watch a stand-up set performed by Mayank Parakh (L) at The Comedy Theatre in Hyderabad. Shot On OnePlus #FramesofIndia
| Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR

Comedy clubs are making their mark in Hyderabad’s entertainment scene. While cafes, auditoriums, and cultural spaces frequently host stand-up shows and open mics, two dedicated venues—The Comedy Theatre and The Street Comedy Club—are taking centre stage. Offering a platform for both emerging and seasoned comedians to perform in English, Hindi, and Telugu, these intimate spaces are injecting fresh energy into the city’s comedy circuit.

Optimised for laughs

It is a seven-day laughter fest at The Comedy Theatre. Tucked away in Vinayak Nagar of Gachibowli, this 70-seater club hosts three stand-up shows every weekday from 8pm and kicks off as early as 2pm on weekends. With performances by both local comedians and artists from across India, the venue offers not just laughs but food and beverages.

Gurgaon-based stand-up comedian Adel Rahman launched The Comedy Theatre in Gurugram in 2022, followed by Hyderabad in May 2024. “Finding performance spaces was always a struggle. Comedians would practice at home and perform in parks or random spots with no dedicated audience or proper acoustics,” he recalls.. After visiting Hyderabad for multiple gigs, Adel noticed the city’s comedy scene was growing but lacked exclusive venues for performers. “Hyderabad comedians were facing the same struggle as those in Gurugram. I wanted to create a space dedicated solely to comedy.”

The club has already hosted top names in the industry, including Abhijit Ganguly, Daniel Fernandes, and Aakash Mehta, along with Hyderabad’s very own Rajasekhar Mamidanna, Rohit Swain, Sai Kiran, and Vivek Muralidharan. Keeping the local scene alive, The Comedy Theatre also promotes Telugu stand-up with dedicated weekend shows.

The intimate setup prioritises lighting and technical precision. “Comedy doesn’t work in large, open spaces with sofas or high ceilings. The close seating ensures that laughter is contagious — if someone isn’t laughing, they’re bound to start when the whole room does,” says Adel.

With upcoming performances by Rohan Joshi, Anu Menon, Kaustubh Agarwal, Shashi Dhiman, Devesh Dixit, and Sapan Verma, the club is just getting started. Plans are also underway for a Comedy Theatre Festival to mark its first anniversary in Hyderabad.

Of stand-up shows and open mics

The Street Comedy Club in Madhapur has become a go-to spot for stand-up shows and open mics. Previously known as Funny Side of Hyderabad, the venue relaunched with a fresh identity in August 2023, marking its second innings since its inception in 2021.

This cosy 35-seater offers an intimate setting where comedy enthusiasts can enjoy an evening of laughter or watch budding comedians test new material during open mics. “Jagah chota hai, par fine comedy ka set-up ban jaata hai” (The space is small, but it sets the stage for great comedy), says Samay Lal Mehta, who manages the club.