In the monthly Vancouver show Couples Clownselling, comedians Cass Furman and Aaron Campbell host a unique event where they ask comedians and their partners questions about their relationships. The show, which takes place at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 179 on Commercial Drive, offers a fresh take on comedy by giving the mic to the partners of comedians, who often prove to be just as funny as their significant others.
How the Show Works
Furman and Campbell came up with the idea for Couples Clownselling a year and a half ago during a competition for new show ideas at a comedy club. Each show features two or three couples, and the questions are crowdsourced from the audience. As attendees sit down, they are invited to write anonymous relationship questions on cue cards. Topics can range from everyday life to intimacy, but couples have the option to skip certain subjects, such as their sex life, if they prefer.
“I always tell the couples before the show that if there’s something they don’t want to talk about — which often is their sex life — to let me know, and then we just don’t ask that couple questions of that nature,” Furman said. “So it can get raunchy, but we can also avoid that at the request of the couples.”
Why Partners Shine
According to Campbell, it is not uncommon for the non-comedian partner to be the funniest person on stage. “It happens more often than you might think,” he said. “They’re more relatable to the audience.” Furman added that the format allows partners to be honest without the pressure of performing stand-up. “The cool thing about this show format is that we’re not asking the comics to do standup,” she said. “We’re just asking questions about their relationship. And the non-comedian partners answer honestly. They’re not necessarily trying to do bits or riff or make people laugh. And sometimes that ends up being the funniest part of the show.”
Popular Questions and Success
A frequently asked question is, “On a scale of one to ten, how much do you enjoy spending time with your in-laws?” Campbell noted that this question comes up almost every show, and Furman agreed that people are very curious about in-law relationships. The show has sold out all 11 of its iterations, including its appearance at the 2026 Just for Laughs Vancouver comedy festival. Local comedians who have participated include Ivan Decker, Ola Dada, and Graham Clark.
“The show was a hit from Day 1,” Campbell said. “The very first show sold out and we turned people away at the door. There’s definitely a demand for it, and the non-comedian partners, like we hoped, really did shine through immediately.”
Event Details
The next Couples Clownselling is scheduled for June 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 179, 2205 Commercial Dr., Vancouver. Tickets are $31.95 including fees, available at couplesclownselling11.eventbrite.ca.
