Irene Ang & Siti Khalijah: If you’re funny and don’t look like a supermodel, then a comedy career is for you!

One is a veteran in television, the other in theatre, but both women are widely regarded as some of Singapore’s most prolific comedians. Irene Ang, 56, rose to fame as Rosie Phua in the ’90s television sitcom Phua Chu Kang and later founded her own  artiste management company Fly Entertainment, while 40-year-old Siti Khalijah Zainal has won many accolades in her career as a theatre artist, such as  National Youth Council’s prestigious Young Artist Award in 2014. 

The art of being funny

Siti Khalijah and Irene Ang: (in unison) So you think you can be funny? [laughs]

Siti: Okay, we must be serious now. We are here to talk about the entertainment scene right?  

Irene: Yes, particularly the life of a comedian. So, I want to ask you, what skill sets does one need to be a successful comedian? 

Siti: Well, I think you must be a very good baker. Use your Skillsfuture credit. Not baker like baking a cake [laughs], but you must bake your material. Write, write, write. Bake, put aside. 

Irene: Wow... so deep. 

Siti: Then ferment, ferment, rise, then you perform. That’s why we always test out our material. Some people always see the polished end products, but they don’t know what it takes to get there. 

Irene: Yah, they think like “Eh, you very natural ah” but actually, what looks natural is practised to death.

Siti: Correct. We also test jokes with some friends. If they don’t laugh, means it’s not good. Back to the drawing board.

TV vs online comedy

Irene: Sadly, the golden era of television sitcoms may be over. Remember Under One Roof and The Noose? Unfortunately, we don’t make sitcoms like that anymore. I don’t know why. 

Siti: Of course, I remember! I think all that comedic content has moved online. Perhaps because there’s more creative freedom. You don’t have to worry about what you can or cannot say.  

Irene: Agree! Short content is very popular. One minute, three minutes – that’s all it takes. I particularly like some of the local and Malaysian influencers who do like “couple” stuff, and because they’ve got no baggage – for them, anything goes.

Actually, we can learn from that too. You know why? We are so used to having a script. But for them, they just go with the flow. Sometimes, no makeup; sometimes, no script. 

Siti: They’re unintentionally funny sometimes, which is even better, right? But I think there needs to be a cross collaboration between us. We should think of ways to be more involved with them.

Irene: Yes, I agree. There are a few online people that I follow, like Amanda (@hibye.lovez on Tiktok), Qilah (@qilahrose55 on Tiktok), and who’s that Malay girl from Sgag? 

Siti: Syafiqa (@syafiqapls)! The tudung girl right? 

Irene: Yes! She’s so funny! But you are very funny also, but your funny is a bit different from Syafiqa. Online kind of funny is irreverent, and yours is more orchestrated with clever punchlines. So if your craftsmanship can combine with her improvisation, it would be “booms”! [both laugh] 

Siti: Exactly why we should put our heads together and come up with some great content. I also feel that the reason why I prefer performing on stage and not on TV, in terms of community, is because I have more creative freedom.

I feel that sometimes, on TV for example, you may have the best talents, best writers, but if they are restricted and not allowed to say or do a lot of things, then even if you have the best people, your show will still be sh*t.

On cancel culture

Irene: It’s really quite funny, and it’s not fair. My personal gripe is that online, as long as you don’t go and say things that will [disturb] racial harmony, and you’re not putting somebody down, you can get away with a lot.

On social media, pretty much everything can be said. But on broadcast television, there are many guidelines. You can’t speak in dialect, for example. There’s still so much you can’t say. Yet, when you watch Netflix or Youtube, wow, all the rappers and their four-letter words all come up. 

Siti: The fun thing with theatre is that the actors are allowed to contribute.

Irene: Like when you’re at rehearsals, you change things up?

Siti: Correct, correct. The freedom to improvise is perhaps why I love theatre so much. I’m not just a tool as an actor, okay? Say this. No, don’t say that. That is what I notice about TV. I feel that I can’t be as funny and organic on a TV show. 

Irene: And a lot of times, the actors don’t realise it. They think it’s the director restricting certain dialogues, but after being a producer myself, I now understand it’s also not within the director’s control. 

Siti: I feel that the creatives are also stuck. Of course, with the limitations that we have, we have to be extra creative to go around it. But if the circle gets smaller, then it’s going to be harder, no matter how creative you are.

Education & mentorship

Irene: Those of us who have more experience also have a role to play with the younger ones. For the past 15 years, I’ve mentored the Ah Boys (Joshua Ang, Tosh Zhang etc from the Ah Boys To Men franchise).

I’ve conducted my own classes in Fly Entertainment, and have personally mentored some of our younger hosts. Recently, I launched IAmCasting, a casting platform. There were a lot of newcomers there, because it’s a platform for anybody who is a performer, actor, singer or influencer to join. We also have a monthly segment – “Ask Irene Anything” – about the industry. So next time, you can be the guest too. 

Siti: I would be honoured, and yes, of course mentoring is important for us and the next generation of talents. You mentioned hosting, acting, and there’s also writing and directing if that’s your interest. There are workshops held by theatre companies for budding writers and directors. But actually, talking about this, I always wondered how you got started in comedy. 

A head start in comedy

Irene: I started at home. Like if it was my grandmother’s birthday or Chinese New Year, I would be the live entertainer. My favourite was impersonating Anita Mui. So I guess I always had that flair to entertain people, but it wasn’t until I was in school and became (not by choice) the captain of  the debate team that I knew I could talk, and talk, and talk. And how I really got my foot in the door was also coincidental (I was previously in insurance).

I was at the Boom Boom Room as a volunteer, and the organiser asked me to translate some songs from Mandarin to English. I did it, and the audience laughed. The producer for Under One Roof was there and approached me after, offering me the gig to be a warm-up act for the audience of the show. How about you? 

Siti: Not really. I don’t do family events [both laugh]. People tell me I’m funny – my family, neighbours and friends. I’m like, “Really? I’m funny meh?” And that was when I realised... 

Irene: Maybe, I can be funny... 

Siti: Yes. People tell me that I have a natural comic timing. And of course, back then, as a teenager, I didn’t understand what that meant, right? But I knew deep inside I wanted to be an actor, not specifically in comedy. I just want to perform. But I’m shy. I didn’t see any plus size actors. Forget it. Dream on. Until I went to Institute of Technical Education (ITE)... 

Irene: You mean there’s an acting course in ITE?

Siti: Not an acting course, but in ITE, I felt like I was in an environment where people already see us as the black sheep of society.  

Irene: So, no baggage? Just let go? 

Siti: Just be myself. I took it on as a co-curricular activity, because nobody knew me, so I just tried. And I think I caught the acting bug then. I remember the very first play I was involved in was A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

Irene: Wow! First play, so serious. 

Siti: But it was a localised version. Very fun. I got the role of Hermia, and that was my first taste of a comedic role.

Irene: Yeah. So how did you get discovered? 

Siti: Audition! I auditioned, and didn’t get everything I wanted. But, it’s okay, just try again. And in the meantime, I love observing, watching how other performers perform. Also comedy, as you know, is not just about physical gags. Sometimes, you can just say it with a serious face, but people laugh. 

Irene: Sometimes, when I watch you on stage, it’s your reaction that engages me. Sometimes, you don’t need lines to be funny. It’s just that comedic timing. 

Siti: Thank you, but those nerves before you go on stage... I mean, I don’t know about you, but I still do get them.  

Irene: I’ve hosted like thousands of events in my life. I still get nervous five minutes before I go on stage.

Siti: I will always have the “vomit feeling”, you know? If I know I want to [makes gagging sound] that means, okay, it’s going to be a great show.

TGIF! (Thank goodness I’m funny!)

Irene: I think one important thing to note is, if you think you are an oddball, if you are not conventionally beautiful, embrace your uniqueness. 

Siti: Embrace your oddities. 

Irene: If I were slim and beautiful, I would be one of the many... so boring.

Siti: Have you seen a supermodel become a stand-up comedian? 

Irene: Speaking of which, let me tell you, it’s a better choice to be a comedian. We are more sustainable. We’re very into sustainability. 

Siti: Different shape, size, height – all also can. 

Irene: You can still be a comedian at 80, but if you’re the idol type, your life span ends around 50 to 55. So, if you’re thinking about this career, just do it.

Photography Reuben Foong, assisted by Daniel West
Creative direction & styling Lena Kamarudin, assisted by Jeon Jae Won, Latisha Sonia Shaymentyran and Anis Nabilah
Makeup Lasalle Lee using Clé de Peau
Hair Zhou Aiyi

To learn more about the 60 women who have shaped Singapore as we know it today, click here.