After Ricky's mother was diagnosed with cancer, he was faced with a question: Is now the right time to come out to her? After receiving rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival of 2023 and London Off-West End debut, Ricky Sim is debuting this Gaysian comedy hour about grief, love, and a secret at Soho Playhouse!

Combining stand-up and storytelling, the show explores his time growing up in the noughties, learning how to keep his first boyfriend with the help of the reggae rapper Sean Paul, while grappling with the decision to come out to his conservative Chinese-Malaysian immigrant mother, just as she was diagnosed with cancer.

Ricky Sim is a lawyer-turned-comedian originally from Malaysia. As a comedy writer, Ricky was one of the 2021 recipients of The PIT/Saturday Night Live (SNL) Scholarship, co-sponsored by SNL, and 2023 Yes And…Laughter Lab fellows. He is a co-host of Gaysians in a Pod podcast and has performed in NY, LA, Toronto, and Kuala Lumpur. He’s opened for Julia Scotti (America’s Got Talent) and Marcia Belsky (Comedy Central) and was featured in the New York Comedy Festival, New York Queer Comedy Festival, and the Asian Comedy Festival.

“Coming Out to Dead People” is directed by Ryan Cunningham, a queer Emmy- and Peabody-award-winning producer and director with directing credits including Club Cumming Presents a Queer Comedy Extravaganza! (Showtime) hosted by Alan Cumming, Ilana Glazer: The Planet is Burning (Amazon), and Expecting Amy (HBO Max).

The show was selected as an Offfest Finalist by the Offies (the Off West End Theater Awards) and was listed as one of the “Ultimate List of LGBTQ Shows at Edinburgh Fringe” by Forbes.

“A raunchy and darkly comic wonder” – EdFringeReview ★★★★★
“The performance’s impact is undeniable, marked by a standing ovation—an exceptional occurrence at the Fringe” – The Interrobang ★★★★★
“A great addition to shows that explore Asian identity, shows that really do deserve representation in mainstream media - Theatre & Tonic ★★★★
“Sim transcending a simple comic routine and creating a genuine connection with many in the audience through his openness and cathartic expression” – The Wee Review ★★★★
“a beautifully heartbreaking show that does a wonderful job of toeing the line between grief and humour” - Broadway World ★★★★
“An intimate performance, so heartfelt and sincere it barely feels like a show at all, building to an emotional final scene that packs a punch” -Steve Bennette, Chortle