Ajahnis Charley Wants to Give You a Little Joy

As a writer for the Tony Ho podcast, The Beaverton, and Because News, Ajahnis Charley is one of Canada’s fastest rising stars in comedy and shows no signs of slowing down. Currently embarking in a career in film and working on the ongoing Untitled Black Sketch Project, I sat down with them to talk about their career thus far, and what motivates them.

Ajahnis Charley (Photo courtesy of Ajahnis Charley)

How did you get started in comedy?

I was first exposed to improv in elementary school through an elementary school program. I had a pretty rough childhood. I was overly energetic, a little angry, and a bit too clever for my own good. Discovering improv gave me an outlet to exert that energy in a positive way. It was something that let me connect to people from the very beginning. Improv has been a very definitive part of my life, and I knew from the first moment I did it that I was always going to pursue this.

I remember talking to you when you first started, and you said you were doing 100 shows in a year. What was that like?

Oh wow, I think I still have the spreadsheet for that! Time based pressure helps me focus. I need that pressure to drive me until I find a natural, healthy way to work. At the time, I was doing classes in Waterloo and trying to do shows in Toronto. Coordinating the two was a challenge. I’ve slept on many improvisors' couch, and that's something from the pre-Coronavirus that I miss. All that grinding gave me a strong mentality of wanting to refine. I'm a big supporter of working out something on stage until you understand it. That mentality helped establish a work ethic that I use to better myself now, but I don’t do that much grinding anymore. Back then, I was young, and I had all the energy in the world to sustain it. But it's not a sustainable thing, and I can't recommend what I did to anyone else. But finding a way that works for you that feels sustainable, but also feels creatively fulfilling, is the way to go.

You hit a height so quickly. What's that momentum like for you?

I didn’t really feel the momentum, I mostly felt the joy of performing. I'm so happy getting to do comedy, and I think that kind of infectious happiness led to people wanting some of that joy in their life. It didn't feel like I was building a career, I was saying yes to everything because everything genuinely interested me. If people were willing to accept me, then I was willing to go wherever would take me. I love the thrill of performing and being asked to be a part of something. Although I see myself growing, it continues to all be a high because I love doing this.

What motivates you?

Seeing peers achieve excellence and wanting to keep up and bettering myself just as they have. I work with people like Coko Galore, Brandon Ash-Mohammad, Aba Amuquandoh, and I want to be on the same playing field with these people who are always heightening their craft. I’m also having ideas I'm in love with, but I know I'm not in a place where I can execute them properly. But I see a path forward, and that motivates me to keep learning and gathering new skills to get those ideas out.

Your work is very personal. How do you navigate the line between what you show and what you don't?

I love the personal; most of my comedy comes from a personal place. It's what I can write about with most specificity and accuracy. For I AM GAY, I wasn't too worried about drawing the line because I had spent my life until that point digesting the issue. This point of contention reaching a climax with my family and then resolving somewhat; I already considered the wound of unacceptance — or delayed acceptance — healed enough to create I AM GAY with confidence. It was still a wound, but I enjoy exposing that kind of stuff, those almost touchy subjects, in my comedy.

What is the best piece of advice that you've received?

Apply for things before you think you're ready for it. You're already going to be judged by the people doing the selection process, don't waste your time judging yourself, especially if it's a free application. If it's something that you have a margin of interest in doing, or something that aligns with your goals down the line, then just apply with your best foot forward! See what happens and commit, that always leads to magical things.

Discover more at www.ajahnischarley.com