From Pizza Shop to Comedy Stage: Ola Dada's Unlikely Journey to Just For Laughs
What began as a simple night out for pizza in downtown Vancouver has blossomed into a promising comedy career for Ola Dada. The Vancouver-based comedian, whose accidental discovery of standup comedy occurred while waiting for food with friends, is now preparing to tape his third comedy special during the prestigious Just For Laughs Vancouver festival.
A Fateful Night at Goldies Pizza
In 2017, Dada and his friends were enjoying an evening at Goldies Pizza when they heard unexpected laughter emanating from the restaurant's basement. Their curiosity led them to discover a live comedy show in progress. Encouraged by his companions, Dada approached the show's producer, Suzy Rawsome, with an unusual request: he wanted to try his hand at standup comedy right then and there.
"At first, I was told no," Dada recalls. "But then the offer came that if our large group of pals stuck around and paid the cover charge, I could have three minutes on stage."
Those three minutes proved transformative. Dada entertained the crowd by poking fun at his friends, discovered an unexpected talent for comedy, and unknowingly launched what would become his professional career.
Recording a New Special at Just For Laughs Vancouver
Dada's journey from that spontaneous pizza shop performance has led him to a significant milestone. The 30-year-old comedian will tape his third standup special during two shows at Vancouver's Hollywood Theatre on February 20, 2024, as part of the Just For Laughs Vancouver festival running from February 12 to 22.
These performances will cap off Dada's Western Canadian Coming to America Tour, marking a full-circle moment for the comedian who discovered his passion in the same city where he'll now record a professional special.
The 10th Anniversary Festival Lineup
The Just For Laughs Vancouver festival celebrates its 10th anniversary with an impressive roster of over 100 shows featuring top comedy talent. The lineup includes notable events such as David Letterman in conversation with Zach Galifianakis, along with performances by internationally recognized comedians including James Acaster, Michelle Buteau, and Laura Ramoso.
Dada's inclusion in this prestigious festival represents a significant achievement for the Vancouver comedian, particularly considering his unconventional entry into the comedy world.
From Banking to Comedy Stages
Dada's path to comedy wasn't straightforward. Born in Nigeria, he moved to Canada in 2006 at age 10, growing up in Fort McMurray, Alberta, before relocating to Vancouver to study business administration with an accounting focus at Capilano University.
"At the time, I was really focused on my career at the bank and my education at school," Dada explains. "So standup comedy really wasn't the plan."
After his initial pizza shop performance, Dada continued to develop his craft with Rawsome's encouragement. "She asked me if I really wanted to take standup seriously, because she felt that I should," he remembers. "I had the talent for it, and I should think about it a bit more."
Developing a Unique Comedy Voice
Dada's early comedy experiences taught him valuable lessons about connecting with audiences. Following his successful debut where he joked about friends, he faced a more challenging situation at his next show when his friends couldn't attend.
"I knew I needed to be able to talk about something," Dada says. "So basically, I just thought about the funniest stories that I had experienced in the last week or in my life at that time."
This approach helped him develop material that resonates with broader audiences while maintaining the personal, observational style that characterized his first performance.
A Vancouver Success Story
Dada's journey represents a distinctly Vancouver success story—one that began in a local pizza shop and has progressed to one of the city's premier comedy venues. His upcoming special recording at the Hollywood Theatre during Just For Laughs Vancouver demonstrates how local talent can develop and thrive within the city's vibrant comedy scene.
As Dada prepares for his festival performances, he reflects on that fateful night at Goldies Pizza with appreciation for the unexpected opportunity that changed his life's direction and set him on the path to professional comedy success.
