Aries Spears Makes His Abu Dhabi Debut at Etihad Arena on 21 November

Aries Spears brings his stand-up to Etihad Arena on Yas Island on Saturday, 21 November — his first-ever show in Abu Dhabi. He takes the stage at 10pm as part of the Abu Dhabi Comedy Season, a few hours after Anubhav Singh Bassi's 6pm set at the same arena — two separate shows on one night. The show is in English and open to guests aged 18 and over.

Spears spent eight seasons on Fox's sketch series MADtv, from 1997 to 2005, and with 198 episodes he is the second-longest-serving cast member in the show's history. He made his name with impressions of Shaquille O'Neal, Jay-Z, Denzel Washington, Michael Jackson and Eddie Murphy, and film audiences may remember him as Tee Pee Tidwell in Jerry Maguire or as Redd Foxx in Why Do Fools Fall in Love. Born in Chicago in 1975, he started doing stand-up at 14 in Harlem clubs and has since released specials including Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling and Comedy Blueprint. On stage he mixes sharp takes on race, show business and American life with the characters that made him famous, switching voices mid-story.

It's a one-night-only stop in Abu Dhabi, landing on a Saturday at the height of the comedy season. Doors open at 9pm, an hour before the start. Plan your evening on Yas Island early: Aries Spears tickets at Etihad Arena.