Joseph Santiago interviewing comedian Tamer Kattan

Comedian Tamer Kattan shares his insights on the growing Barcelona Fringe comedy scene and his solo show ‘An Alien from New York.’ As he prepares for the first-ever Barcelona Fringe, he talks about the journey, the comedy scene, and more.

1. Why are you excited about doing the first-ever Barcelona Fringe?

I’ve been in Europe for four years, and the English-speaking comedy scene has grown tremendously. The stages are great, the comedy is creative, edgy, and smart, and the audiences are eager to hear from comedians talking about life in Europe, rather than from comedians in the US or UK. It’s an incredibly inspiring time to be a comedian here. We aren’t just part of the scene—we, along with the fans, are building it.

2. What’s your solo show called, and what’s it about?

The last several years have been wild. My opinions have changed a lot about life, politics, Europe, America, and the media. It’s dizzying how much has happened. Add to that living on a new continent, and honestly, man, it’s almost overwhelming. I’ve shifted my point of view from ‘The US is the best’ to ‘You should live where they treat you best.’ Being a comedian while going through such massive changes, writing down all these feelings and examining them, has led to this show. It’s called An Alien from New York. I’ve never felt more like a New Yorker, and I’ve also never felt more happily out of place. It’s been a wild, difficult, inspiring, and fun ride. Leaving America has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, but at the same time, the most rewarding.

3. What makes Barcelona or Europe a great place to be a comedian?

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that at first, it felt like I left the NBA to join the European leagues. But after I checked my ego, I realized that I have more freedom and more access to collaborating with other comedians, musicians, painters, DJs, etc., than in any other place I’ve lived. Barcelona is a great place for a comedy festival because the audiences are so international, and they’re part of this expat community—a community of adventurous people who are living away from home, pursuing their dreams, and looking for connection and a way to make sense of life. Comedy is a great way to explore those ideas, and the Barcelona Fringe has some of the best comedians bringing their shows to one beautiful city. It starts next week—November 1st to 3rd are the dates of my solo show.

4. What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

An audience member approached me after a show and said, ‘Man, it’s so great to finally hear professional comedy that reflects my life and the experiences I have here in Europe. I love Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Carr, etc., but those guys are always telling me about life over there. Thank you for telling me about life here.’ That conversation is tattooed on my brain. And we have big names here too. Michelle Wolf is in the festival. Louie CK and Trevor Noah have both performed in Barcelona. I love the audiences here, and I love that what I’m creating feels new.

5. What advice would you give your younger self?

There is no finish line. Enjoy the ride. Stop yourself from thinking, ‘What’s next??!’ Celebrate every win. It’s another reason why I love the idea of the Barcelona Fringe. This isn’t a ‘competition.’ It’s art. A bunch of comedians are bringing their solo shows, and most of us are friends. We cheer for each other, hang out, and get inspired by one another, and that vibe is what I love about Barcelona, The Comedy Clubhouse, the Barcelona Improv Group, Space Cowboy, and all the other venues that are involved.

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