Karin Fekko has built her comedy on a simple but radical premise: the darkest things in life are often the most worth laughing at. The Toronto-based comedian and storyteller is best known for Multiple Neurosis, a one-woman show about hiding her MS diagnosis for 17 years — a premise that sounds heavy on paper and lands, by all accounts, as both hilarious and deeply human. Her style sits at the intersection of dark and playful, using humour the way the best comedians do: not to minimize difficult experiences, but to make them something an audience can actually enter.
How would you describe your comedy style?
Dark and playful. I love how comedy can invite people into uncomfortable subjects that are otherwise too difficult to talk about. I wrote a one-woman show about hiding my MS for 17 years called Multiple Neurosis; it’s about serious topics like internalized ableism … and it’s also a lot of fun. Why not laugh at the darkest aspects of the human condition; what else can we really do?
Who are some of your influences?
Mike Birbiglia, who pulls you in with his storytelling, makes you feel like he’s your best friend.
Hannah Gadsby, who isn’t afraid to make a point, isn’t afraid to not be funny.
Maria Bamford, who is so uniquely herself, and ventures fearlessly into the absurd.
Who was your favourite comedian growing up?
As a kid, my first memories of comedy were watching SCTV. I LOVED Andrea Martin, John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Catherine O’Hara. I even had the chance to go to The Second City to watch an improv show; it was so unpredictable and fun. Three years ago – in a full circle moment – I began taking classes at The Second City, and had my very first performance in The John Candy Box Theatre. Awwww.
Who is your favourite comedian now?
I love Mike Birbiglia’s podcast (Working It Out), Netflix specials, and I’ve seen him live. He’s the kind of comedian that can transform a massive theatre into an intimate space, and deliver material that reflects your innermost private experiences. His shows have a lot of heart.
What is your pre-show ritual?
I meditate right behind the curtain, so I can feel connected to the audience before I perform. I listen to them come in, chat with one another … now that I write this it sounds a bit creepy lol.
What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?
Edmonton! It was the last stop on my Fringe tour last summer. By then, I’d performed the show so many times that I could just have fun up there. A major highlight was meeting the many people with MS and other disabilities who came out to the show, and hearing their stories.
What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?
A lot of people don’t know this, but Multiple Sclerosis is a Latin term meaning, God breaking your legs one day at a time.
This joke is a favourite, because it’s one of the first I ever wrote, and it’s deeply authentic to my experience of MS. The joke always lands, and quickly lets the audience know that it’s safe to laugh with me.
What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?
LIVE! I love sharing a laugh with strangers, and always come away knowing about new comedians, especially openers.
Tell us a joke about your city.
Having an MRI in the basement of St Michael’s Hospital, offers the same feelings of privacy and dignity, as a medical procedure on a subway platform.
Do you have anything to promote right now?
I’m performing my new storytelling show Who’s Gonna Push Your Wheelchair? at Sweet Action Theatre, August 18, 21, and 22. Tickets here.
You can find my 2025 show Multiple Neurosis on my YouTube Channel
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | YouTube | Facebook
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?
Stand Up Gals – comedians Madeleine Brown and Taryn Dougall. They are hilarious and produce Ladies First – an amazing fem/queer priority monthly open mic – and other shows around Toronto.
