Dream Academy’s evergreen Happy Ever Laughter lineup of stand-up comedians are back to tickle your funny bone this June, each with a short set of laugh out loud jokes to bring a smile and more to your face. This time around, a grand total of twelve comedians, from both Singapore AND Malaysia, will grace the Capitol Theatre, including veterans Fakkah Fuzz and Dr. Jason Leong, XiXi Lim and Noah Yap as they make their debut in live stand-up comedy, alongside favourites Hossan Leong, Rishi Budhrani, Pam Oei, Siti Khalijah, Sharul Channa, Hafidz Rahman, Jacky Ng, and Prem John.

Speaking to Dr Jason Leong and Noah Yap, the two couldn’t be more different in terms of their experiences, but both hold the same degree of enthusiasm and chutzpah necessary for charming the crowd and delivering side-splitters throughout the night. Read on for the full quickfire interview with both comedians:

Dr Jason Leong

Bakchormeeboy: As a doctor and comedian, would you say that laughter the best medicine?

Dr Jason Leong: Laughter is not the best medicine. Medicine is the best medicine. But laughing is also good.

Bakchormeeboy: What is your strategy onstage, considering you only have 10-15 minutes to wow the audience?

Dr Jason Leong: Most seasoned comics will be able to adjust to a 5-minute set, 10-minute, 15-minute, 20-minute or even an hour. I’m not very seasoned but luckily with some experience, I do have 10-15 minutes of jokes.

Bakchormeeboy: Could you also share how you prepare for such a show, in terms of making it memorable and leaving an impression?

Dr Jason Leong: I workshop my jokes at open mics regularly. That’s how I know the jokes will work. Memorable or not, that’s up to the audience. I just want to know I’ve put the work in.

Bakchormeeboy: The comedy scene has been going through changing times in Malaysia, Singapore and around the world, how do you continue to navigate it?

Dr Jason Leong: There’s an eternal saying in showbiz: The show must go on. And go on, we will.

Bakchormeeboy: You have a big following here in Singapore, What do you want say to your fans and new fans?

Dr Jason Leong: Please buy tickets to my shows at www.jasonleong.my. I need the money.

Bakchormeeboy: You have a huge tour lined up, where you will be premiering your new show, “Why Are You Like This?”, can you tell me more about this new show that you have been working on and why are you debuting this show in Subang?

Dr Jason Leong: It’s a new collection of 1-hour of jokes and stories for my 2024. I try my best to do a new hour every year. I like this new hour and it’s my favourite thus far. Actually it’s not debuting in Subang, I started in Australia, and it will continue throughout Asia, America and UK. So there isn’t really a debut anywhere but yes it’s a new hour.

Noah Yap

Bakchormeeboy: I have been watching you on Sunny Side Up, and have seen you try a couple of jokes! This will be your debut on Happy Ever Laughter. What are you initial reactions when you first got invited to the show?

Noah Yap: As soon I got the call, I was over the moon! I would consider myself a big time stand-up comedy fan and I’ve always wanted to try it out for myself. I spent the whole of last month memorising my entire script and workshopping it with the team. Super grateful to everyone who has been nothing but patient with me!

Bakchormeeboy: You have been quite a household name, from the Ah Boys To Men series, to other films and television, and now even stage work. Having been in the scene for some time now, how do all these experiences mature you to who you are today?

Noah Yap: I still treat every work opportunity as a blessing. Every time I go on set or on stage. it’s always a chance to constantly improve myself and my work.

Bakchormeeboy: Not many know you graduated from NAFA, and the last time we saw you on stage was in Monster in the Mirror. Could you share more about your time in NAFA and how much you enjoyed being in that musical?

Noah Yap: I studied NAFA Theatre for one year before getting the call for Ah Boys To Men. During that year, I really learnt quite a few things which I still apply to this day at work. I really enjoyed the time at Monster In The Mirror because it has been a long time since I last did a theatre production. My fellow cast and crew also made the rehearsals and shows extremely fun!

Bakchormeeboy: Being on stage seems to come naturally to you, how is this show going to different from the other times?

Noah Yap: This stage, i think, is the most scary out of all. Stand-up comedy in itself is a totally different ball game, but I’m so happy to be sharing the stage with 11 other giants of comedy who have been extremely welcoming and helpful. I hope I really can be funny and people can relate to my experiences too.

Bakchormeeboy: Who is Noah Yap now, and what have you got planned for the near future so we all can continue following your journey?

Noah Yap: Noah Yap is still the same guy in his teens who wants nothing more than to do this for the rest of his life – acting, hosting and entertaining others. I recently wrapped up a new movie titled We Can Save The World, which is directed and created by Cheng Chai Hong, who also created Average Guys and Neighbourhood Watch Task Force. Please watch out for this sci-fi comedy at the end of the year!

Happy Ever Laughter plays from 20th to 28th June 2024 at Capitol Theatre. Tickets available from SISTIC