Silvia Sparks

Silvia Sparks, born Silvia Perea Labayen on August 14, 1986, in Gijón, is a multifaceted Spanish artist. She identifies as a humorist, translator, and philosopher. Her academic background includes studies in Philosophy at the University of Oviedo and the Complutense University of Madrid, followed by scriptwriting training at the London Film Academy. Before dedicating herself to comedy, she researched the works of Wilhelm Reich and Friedrich Nietzsche, reflecting an intellectual curiosity that informs her current work. She is described as a provocative humorist within the national scene.

Since 2015, Silvia Sparks has been working professionally as a stand-up comedian, performing in Spanish, English, and French. Her solo comedy show, titled 'Sparks: El show de humor negro,' has been running since 2021, and is described as a monologue featuring dark humor (humor negro). She performs at venues both nationally and internationally, including the Théâtre Marie Bell in Paris. Sparks’ performances often address everyday issues alongside controversial topics like pedophilia, sadomasochism, depression, terrorism, gyms, IKEA, and Tinder. Reviewers from atrapalo.com have praised her work as 'sublime,' 'disruptive,' and 'very brave,' noting her ability to create awkward silences. Her comedy style is described as acidic and vitriolic, sometimes drawing comparisons to the Asturian Wednesday Addams and Christina Ricci.

Beyond stand-up, Silvia Sparks contributes significantly to various media outlets. She has worked as a scriptwriter for companies like Cuatro, Cadena SER, El Extraordinario, and Noodles Productions, and was a collaborator on the Movistar+ show 'Las que faltaban' in 2019. From 2021 to 2024, she wrote for the magazine 'Mongolia.' Now, she writes a funny column for 'La Nueva España.' She also makes and presents 'Punch Comedy English,' which features comedians from around the world. Her translation work includes graphic novels and art books for publishers like Dark Horse Comics and Abrams Books, including Sara Soler's award-winning graphic novel 'Us.' In 2024, she participated in a monologue on the BBC program 'The Arts Hour,' recorded in Madrid, and is also a voice actor for 'A Vivir de Cadena Ser'. She openly identifies as depressive, nihilistic, and neurotic, and believes humor is related to violence.