Terrorist jokes, halal-haram ratios and “chai tea means tea tea”. Muslim comedy can often feel recycled, boxed into stereotypes or performed for a white gaze. That’s where Sketchy Muslims steps in. This exciting new sketch show, written by Luna Al-Kaisy and Noor Sobka, delivers halal yet hilarious humour rooted in Muslim womanhood – the kind that feels less like a performance and more like being in on the joke with your closest friends (with no overdone bomb gag in sight).

Led by a powerhouse lineup of exciting Muslim women comedians – Noor, Sajida Yasin, Adna Ahmed, Saher Shah and Leen Al-Kaisy – the show moves through a series of sketches that are as sharp as they are side-splitting. Across an hour of giggly, slightly unhinged laughs, the five-woman show is also threaded with moments that hit closer to home. From exaggerated run-ins with the “haram police” and ever-opinionated dawah bros, to a tongue-in-cheek helpline for those recovering from questionable “haram boy” encounters and stolen Eid money, every sketch lands with both humour and heart.

“We want to be halal but not cringe,” producer and writer Luna tells me, about the origins of the show, during a preview at Ilford’s Hishashi Company café. “When Muslims are represented in media, it’s very on the nose and doesn’t touch on the intricacies, like when you’re watching TV with your parents, something haram comes on and you have to scramble to change the channel.”

“The roles out there for Muslim women are oppressed, terrorists or side characters,” adds Noor, actress, writer and co-producer. “They’re not authentic or nuanced, so we’re trying to represent every type of Muslim.” 

What started off as a desire from Luna and Noor to fill a gap in the comedy scene has now turned into a popular social media platform featuring skits, sketches, and a celebration of Muslim talent, alongside a rapidly expanding community of women who are finally seeing themselves reflected with honesty. That momentum has translated offline, with the now almost sold-out live show. Part of that demand comes from the way the show has been built.

“When it comes to TV and film, there are gatekeepers in shiny suits. In comedy and theatre, there is a community effort,” shares actress, writer and content creator Adna, on the development of the show.

In the lead-up, Sketchy Muslims raised over £1.5K through crowdfunding – a clear sign of the demand and belief in projects like this. “We have sponsors and people in the community that helped us put this together, and we can use social media to get people to come,” she adds. “In traditional media, you need agents, thousands of pounds, hundreds of people to say you can do it. This is grassroots, we’ve built this, and for our stories to be told, it starts here, as we have a lot more control.”

What it lacked in the grandeur of a larger stage, the show makes up for with its writing and creativity. The sketches are inventive and refreshingly original: interviews with babies explaining standing on their father’s head during Tarawih prayers, a hilariously accurate Muslim spin on The Bachelor and even a Mulan-inspired monologue capturing the struggle of trying to find a prayer room in public spaces. It’s playful, self-aware and genuinely funny without slipping into cliché.

But what makes Sketchy Muslims linger long after the final laugh isn’t just its humour, it’s perspective. This isn’t comedy that exists in reaction to stereotypes; it moves beyond them entirely without seeking validation or explanation. Instead, they centre Muslim women unapologetically, and in doing so, the show signals a shift in who gets to tell stories, and how. By carving out its own space, both online and on stage, Sketchy Muslims challenges the idea that meaningful representation has to be filtered through traditional gatekeepers. It proves that when given the freedom to create on their own terms, new voices don’t just add to the conversation, they reshape it.

On their hopes for the future of Sketchy Muslims, Noor says, “We want a world tour! If not, we want to share this digitally or on TV so we can reach as many people as possible and continue building a community. We’re not just posting silly skits, we’re highlighting Muslim stand-ups, actors and events. We want to keep building a platform so we can raise other Muslim women in comedy and beyond.”

Sketchy Muslims is performing at East London’s Poplar Union on 8th and 9th May. Book tickets here.