Rachid Badouri has sold over one million tickets in 10 countries, performing in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. He has a successful film and television career, a social media following of over four million followers, and a 2024 Netflix special titled Les Fleurs du Tapis.
Now he is looking to create that success all over again in English, starting with his new solo show titled “In English.”
He says being a success in the English world is a lifelong dream and kicked off his tour with a show at L’Olympia in Montreal. It wasn’t the first time Badouri has performed in English. Leading up to this tour, He dipped his toes in the English comedy scene in LA, where he saw success at Netflix is a Joke Fest, and here in Ottawa opening for David Acker and Bassem Yousef.
Rachid Badouri. Photo provided.
“I had a chance to have a piece of the Ottawa crowd and I loved it…. I remember being on stage and saying, ‘I can’t wait to come back here and do one hour.’ We did a great show there back in April and I can’t wait to come back in a bigger venue.”
In preparing for his steps into new territory he has been able to draw from what he’s learned in the past 17 years.
“It’s helping a lot because I’m picking up much, much faster because of the experience” he said.
Things like adjusting on the fly during a routine are invaluable experiences learned through years of performing live.
“When I perform in the language that’s not mine, when I’m not in my comfort zone, it’s helping a lot of the experiences are kicking in, and it’s helping more than if I would have started this whole comedy thing, like, a year before,” Badouri said.
Switching to a new language has had its challenges. Badouri had to overcome his own doubts about his Quebecois accent.
“I really wanted to have, I guess, perfect and standard American or Canadian English accent when I was talking,” he says. But, realizing that was impossible, he embraced it instead. He says audiences love a unique story and a unique accent.
“So I started to calm down on that aspect…because it was actually becoming an obsession.”
Choosing Ottawa as the second stop was not by chance. Over the summer Badouri regularly surveyed his Canadian audience to see where they are from.
Photo provided.
“The number one city was Ottawa,” he said. It’s also a city he enjoys visiting in general. “When I go to Gatineau to perform, I always sleep in Ottawa because I like the vibe there….. Every time I go to walk around there I always get recognized, and not only by Francophone but by Anglophones.”
So what can Ottawans expect to take away from the April 12 show?
Badouri summarizes it saying “I hope they get to know me better. I hope it can help them as well. When I started doing those bits about, all the trouble I’ve been through and all the sad parts of my life that I turn into a comedy on stage, I get a lot of comments from people who actually saw the show, writing me on Instagram, saying, ‘I love the fact that you opened up about this, because I thought I was the only one went through a similar situation.’
“And I hope it can help because that’s what we do. We, as comedians, we’re very insecure individuals, but we do want to see people feel better and have a good time, or else why would we do that job? You know, it’s real to see the whole audience laughing out loud and slapping their knees and having a great time. So I hope, I just hope they have a great, great time.”
Rachid Badouri will be playing at the Babs Asper Theatre located on Elgin Street at 7:30 pm on Saturday, April 12. Accessible seating is available for those using assistive devices, those with visual impairments, and those accompanied by support persons. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster.
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