Culture, Identity & Comedy: In Conversation with Phil Wang

The series celebrates voices who have chosen creative, unconventional paths — and the courage it takes to follow them.

In this special edition, Culture, Identity & ...Comedy, Beatrix Ong MBE sits down with comedian and writer Phil Wang to explore how humour, identity, and culture intertwine.

We’re delighted to present this event at the ESEA Community Centre — a fitting, community-rooted home for this conversation.

Tickets prices are final, with % of the proceeds going to the Centre to support its ongoing cultural and community programmes.

A limited number of Phil's book Sidesplitter will available on the night (paperback edition) and he'll be signing copies after the conversation.

The ESEACC Café will also be open for refreshments and a simple Malaysian food menu especially for the evening until 9.30pm.

Join us for an evening of laughter, reflection, and shared stories about what it means to belong, create, and express identity through art.

🌸 About the Series

Culture, Identity & … is a new series by Beatrix Ong MBE, founder and host of Being Creative Being Asian (BCBA) at Soho House. Through live conversations, it celebrates people who have taken unconventional creative paths, sharing honest stories of self-discovery, heritage, and artistic freedom.

🎙️ Speakers

Phil Wang is a comedian, actor and writer. He has hosted BBC's Live at the Apollo and appeared on shows including Have I Got News For You, QI, Would I Lie to You?, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Roast Battle and Taskmaster. In 2021 he published his first book, Sidesplitter, about his experiences as a mixed-race person. It was selected as a Times and Sunday Times Book of the Year.

Phil has performed at international comedy festivals around the world including the Edinburgh Fringe, Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the New Zealand Comedy Festival. Last September he released his second Netflix special, Wang in There, Baby! - which was included in the New York Times' list of Best Comedy of 2024.

Beatrix Ong MBE is an award-winning designer, creative director and business leader whose acclaimed eponymous footwear label was internationally recognised for its modern, distinctive approach to British design. Her work spans fashion, interiors, and cultural collaborations with global institutions including the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Design Museum.

As the founder of Being Creative Being Asian (BCBA) and curator of Culture, Identity & …, Beatrix explores how heritage and creativity intersect — creating spaces for honest, cross-cultural conversations about identity, belonging, and creative courage.

💬 Practical Info

📍 ESEA Community Centre | 10 Dec | 7PM

• Check-in opens at 6:00 PM, with the ESEACC café open serving refreshments and light food until 9.30pm.
• Doors to the talk room open at 6:30 PM.
• Conversation begins promptly at 7:00 PM.
• The event runs for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Unallocated seating. Please arrive early to settle in.
• For accessibility needs, please contact the venue directly: https://www.hackneychinese.org.uk/contact-us

💛 Come for the conversation — stay for the community!