Comedy fans will head “back to school” next weekend at Ladner’s Genesis Theatre.
Ivan Decker returns to his hometown for Ladner is a Place, a sold-out comedy show on Friday, Jan. 17.
“I can’t wait. It’s pretty exciting to be going back to my old high school,” said Decker. “The last time I was on stage there was in 2003 when I graduated. I haven’t been back since I was a student there.”
Although separated by five years, both Decker, the show’s headliner, and Dylan Williams, the show’s producer, grew up in Ladner and have performed at Genesis many times.
While Williams’ comedy journey is just beginning, Decker’s career is booming. Now residing in Los Angeles, he is a surging talent on the international comedy scene, having appeared on Netflix, Conan, CBC and is currently touring with Just for Laughs.
“I think it’s going to be a bit weird and exciting to be back in the theatre,” he said. “It’s going to be a great show. A lot of great comics are on tap. To have the show already sold out, that’s awesome. People can expect some Ladner references for sure. It’s going to be a fun night for sure.”
Williams first heard about Decker’s success in stand-up while working on a construction site in Ladner in 2015. He was an instant fan.
“Ivan has such a unique style and an even more unique ability to perform clean material that appeals to every demographic,” said Williams. “It’s the kind of material you’d expect to hear from a Ladner boy.”
Seeing someone from a small community like Ladner achieve so much inspired Williams to start writing jokes and in 2017 he held a microphone for the first time. Now living in Victoria, Williams has performed at Heckler’s Comedy Club and all over Vancouver Island.
He said he looks forward to returning to the Lower Mainland to open the Ladner show.
“What started as a hopeful Facebook message from a fan and aspiring comedian has now become a highly-anticipated event that will pay tribute to our tiny fishing village and the wonderful people that call it home,” said Williams. “I’m so grateful for the support of the community and to Ivan for coming out to do the show, helping us prove once and for all that Ladner is in fact… a place.”
Two other comedians – Dan Duvall and Alannah Brittany– will also be a part of the show.
Duvall is a rising talent in B.C. comedy. In just two years he has toured up and down Vancouver Island, across B.C. and Alberta, performed in Europe and the United States and at JFL Northwest. In addition to standup comedy, he has written for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim and is the subject of the documentary Funny Tweets which you can watch on Crave.
Brittany is a rising Canadian comedy star who has been on Just for Laughs Northwest, BigLaughs comedy festival and Sirius XM’s Top Comic.
