A mother, a daughter and a spontaneous trip to Thailand.
What could go wrong—or right?
That mix of mischief, drama, and unfiltered bonding is the premise of RAY!, the latest comedy fest show from rising comedian Jess Karamjeet. Happening on May 15-16, 2025, at Q Theatre, as part of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo, Karamjeet is claiming her space and taking space in the comedy scene on Aotearoa’s stages.
Born in the UK to a Punjabi mother and Irish/Scottish father, the 35-year-old Karamjeet moved to New Zealand in 2019. And in a space where South Asian women are still vastly underrepresented, she’s bringing a refreshing, raw, and intersectional voice—especially one that speaks directly to Kiwi-Indian audiences.
“My comedy fest show RAY! is about the two of us taking a trip to Thailand together, and the unexpected mischief we got up to,” she shares with The Indian Weekender.
“Thailand was eye-opening for both good and bad reasons. I’m really excited to share our story with Indian Kiwis who may relate.”
The show is an original blend of stand-up and songs– something only a multi-hyphenate like Karamjeet could pull off with flair.
But it wasn’t always laughs and gigs.
In 2020, her world tilted when her father passed away from a terminal illness. That loss became the unlikely push behind her decision to go all in.
“There’s a significant chance my dad’s illness is hereditary, and you don’t learn that kind of information and carry on with life in the same way,” she says.
“I dedicated myself to comedy, financially invested in myself, and produced my shows. I think it’s so important for us to back ourselves.”
Her previous show, Redundant, was a tribute to her father—and the creative spark he instilled in her.
Growing up in a multicultural household where Friday night takeaways came with a side of British shows, she was hooked early on. Yes, she watched the classics. Monty Python, The Fast Show, Billy Connolly—but it was Goodness Gracious Me that left a mark.
Still, the lack of South Asian exposure on screen was glaring.
Jess Karamjeet/Photo: Supplied
“Even though I’m bi-racial, I experienced a disturbing amount of racism while growing up, which I think surprises some Indian Kiwis,” she reflects.
“So, seeing funny brown faces on my TV definitely helped me and showed me a different path.”
Fast forward to today, and South Asian women like her are finally centre-stage, leaving halls full of non-indians in laughter splits—and quiet, proud grins on the faces of anyone who’s ever felt like the ‘other’.
Some of Karamjeet’s favourite gigs have been with South Asian audiences. There's that instant spark, that shared experience, that feeling of finally being seen.
Karamjeet herself is a fan first.
“Sindhu Vee’s career has been inspirational, but Meera Syal is my ultimate hero,” she says.
For those who don’t know, Sindhu Vee’s dry wit and razor-sharp timing can turn even the humble mango fruit into comedy gold.
But it’s Meera Syal who left the deepest mark on Karamjeet.
“I was obsessed with her book Anita & Me as a kid and read it countless times. I related so much to Meena — growing up in a northern English town and feeling like an outsider next to my blonde, beautiful friends.”
She believes Meera Syal taught her what brave, culturally honest storytelling looks like.
“I feel blessed to know my career has been built on that kind of authenticity. I think it means people are more likely to connect to my comedy.”
And connect they do. Not just through live shows like RAY!, but also on screen.
A self-confessed telly nerd, Karamjeet ticked off a big bucket-list moment in 2018 –writing for the iconic UK show Neighbours.
She wrote for a bi-racial character named Yashvi Rebecchi, and took it a step further.
“I also pushed for a bisexual female storyline, and know from DMs that it helped a huge number of women to feel more comfortable in navigating their sexuality.”
Off-stage, her mission continues with ‘PACSA (Laughs)’ —The Pan-Asian Comedy School Aotearoa.
“I founded it [PACSA (Laughs)] because of the imbalance of numbers on the national stage,” she shares.
“Professional Pan-Asian comedians in Aotearoa are so few and far between, and I wanted to address that by making a change and challenging systemic biases.”
Her students often go on to perform at the Asian Comedy Takeover, her regular gig night at Auckland’s Basement Theatre.
She also recently performed and spoke at an event with Mahila Samaj Auckland for International Women’s Day.
Jess Karamjeet at an event with Mahila Samaj Auckland for International Women’s Day/Photo: Supplied
“I performed, then gave a talk about accessing comedy. Being in a roomful of Indian women and seeing them laugh brought me to tears on the way home. It felt transformative.”
And if India’s comedy circuit seems far off, think again. After a powerful run at the 2024 Melbourne Comedy Festival alongside legends like Kanan Gill, Urooj Ashfaq, and Anirban Dasgupta, Karamjeet’s eyes are set firmly on the motherland.
“India’s comedy scene is definitely on my radar. I performed in the all South-Asian women’s show Brown Women Comedy, and Urooj even came to see my solo show GRIEF-SEX-RACE with producer Sumendra Singh—they were both so generous with their praise (even if I got awkward in the taxi afterwards!),” she says.
Karamjeet also opened for Indian comic Devanshi Shah in Auckland.
“Gigging in India is a definite long-term goal,” she shares.
Whether she’s behind a mic, on a script, or building platforms for others, Jess Karamjeet is more than just a funny woman—she’s a movement. And her comedy festival show RAY! is her loud, proud, laugh-out-loud invitation to join in.
Click here to book now.
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