Sajeela Kershi

Sajeela is a comedian, compere, writer and actor and activist for women’s rights and refugee women. A regular face and voice in TV & radio broadcasting.
She has performed stand-up across the UK and internationally, including taking shows to an array of festivals and fringes including the Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Manchester, Buxton and Brighton fringes as well as being invited to perform in the; USA, Prague and Montreal Just for Laughs festival.
Sajeela has experience of performing in front of a variety of crowds at clubs, corporate and private events. She has performed all over the UK and abroad. She has also been known to perform stand-up at unusual places; on a moving bus around Edinburgh, a man-made beach in the middle of Birmingham town centre, on a punt at the Cambridge Festival (the first comic to have ever done so). She was also part of a group of comics to take the first comedy tour around the Scilly Isles.
Sajeela infamously starred in Brendon Burns’ 2007 ‘So I Suppose This is Offensive’ show which went on to win the IF.Comedy Award (formerly Perrier). This show saw her playing to packed houses abroad and the UK, venues such as the Pleasance Grand Edinburgh, The Garrick Theatre, The Soho Arts Theatre and the Duchess Theatre where the DVD of the show was recorded. Her performance was praised by critics and audiences alike.
As an activist for women’s rights and the rights of refugees & immigrants – Sajeela is often asked to represent, be a spokesperson or champion charities involved with issues close to her heart.
Sajeela was asked to be a key speaker at the Global Women’s march in London Jan 2017′ speaking to over 100,000 people in Trafalgar square. She also spoke at the one year anniversary in Jan 2018′ and again at the March against Trump’s visit the same year.
As a comedian/writer/activist and via her charity work –  Sajeela was invited to represent the UK,  at the ‘Conscience Convoy in Turkey this year’ attended by women from across the globe – the convoy ended in Hatay Square, with over 10,000 women from over 55 countries present – Alongside other activists, performers, world leaders (including the Nelson Mandela family)  Sajeela spoke out passionately and with humour against the treatment of Refugee women imprisoned and tortured in Syria.
Sajeela is regularly invited to speak about her own story and the empowerment of women to women’s groups and women working within corporate organisations.
Sajeela has devised, produced and curates hit 5* storytelling show Immigrant Diaries which has toured to sell out shows in London’s West End, the Edinburgh, Brighton, Manchester, Prague fringes as well as Hawth Theatre Crawley leading to  successful, critically acclaimed sell-out shows at the Royal Festival Hall as part of the Alchemy Festival in May 2014 then again as part of their ‘Changing Britain’ festival charting the past 70years in British History including the politics and contribution made by Immigrants and also at the House of Lords where Sajeela was asked to perform a faith version of the show  – Immigrant Diaries has been described as ‘a positive antidote to all the negative anti immigration/refugee rhetoric. Past guests have included, Hollywood actors, Stephen Tobolowsky, Jimmy O Yang, Jing Lusi to comedians, Paul Sinah, Shazia Mirza, Luisa Omielan to Presenters Nikki Bedi, Nihal, MTV’s Kristiana Backer to even MP David Lammy and an array of guests from the world of entertainment and beyond!
Winner of Argus Angel Award for Artistic Excellence (2015)
Nominated Brighton & Hove Independent best home grown talent
Winner Of AWA (Asian Women of Achievement) Award 2015 (Arts & Culture category)
Winner of Angel Award for Artistic Excellence (2015)
Winner of Chortle best club South 2007/2015
Star of Edinburgh (formerly Perrier) Award Winning Show (2007) – Brendon Burns ‘So I suppose this is offensive now?’
Finalist Best Stage Production (2017) ITV Asian Media Awards
Finalist Hackney Empire 2011
Shortlisted in The Leicester Comedy Festival Best Joke of the fringe (2018)
Nominated Brighton & Hove Independent best home grown talent (2015)
Huffington Post’s top 50 funny women to follow on twitter. @SajeelaKershi
Independent And ‘I’ Best 100 & 50 Jokes of the Fringe
Regularly writes for and appears on various BBC Radio