Kumar's maltipoos are 'guest stars' in his live shows

The Singaporean comedian's three-year-old dog Coffee is the latest to share the stage

- Joanne Soh

Audiences oohed and aahed when Kumar brought his maltipoo Coffee out during a segment of his latest live comedy production, S.O.S. Kumar.

The local comedian, 56, also proudly projected a photo of his four fur kids — all male maltipoos — on the screen on stage as he wanted to share how cute they are and the place they hold in his heart.

Three-year-old Coffee is the calmest — compared with Cookie, seven; Latte, two; and Biscuit, one — and is oblivious to the stage lights and cheers from audience members. However, Kumar is still careful to showcase him only during quieter moments and avoid loud music or applause that might cause distress.

His dogs have been "guest stars" in his previous live shows, with Latte having the honour of first sharing the stage in 2024's Kumar Uncut.

S.O.S. Kumar, now running at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands until Aug 3, is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of Singapore's 60th birthday.

As Marina Bay Sands does not allow pets on its premises except service animals, a special permit — which takes about three months to obtain — is needed for Kumar to take his dog to the Sands Theatre.

"I also have a pet sitter to look after Coffee in the room backstage when I'm performing," says Kumar.

The veteran entertainer, who is known for his bawdy humour, has always been a dog person.