IN June 2003, Stuart Taylor launched his solo career as a stand-up comic with Joker in the Pack at GrandWest Casino’s Roxy Revue Bar.
That show combined magic sketches. Taylor subsequently ditched the magic and rapidly became a force on the national comedy circuit.
In tandem with producing his own shows, he became a prolific producer and promoter of other comics, particularly at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. Now, Taylor is back where it all started – at GrandWest, this time in the GrandArena, where he is producing The Big 5 Comedy Show.
The show is on for one performance – March 4 – and features Taylor, Joey Rasdien, Barry Hilton, Kagiso Lediga and Loyiso Gola (his last SA show before he departs for Australia). Ready D, an award-winning DJ, will also be on stage.
Taylor launched The Big 5 Comedy Show last year at Artscape. The concept: to present “five of SA’s best loved stand-up comics all on one stage”. The season sold out and it was decided to go big at GrandWest.
I put it to Taylor that the Grand-
Arena is a bit larger than the intimate Roxy Revue Bar - where he went solo.
“I seem to have moved to the other extreme end of the complex,” he said. “I loved the Roxy. I staged four solo shows there. It’s great to come back after so many years to a much bigger stage. What is interesting is that all the tech staff in The GrandArena started out in the Roxy so I’ve known these guys for 15 years. So it’s going to be a bit like a homecoming.”
Taylor started his career as a magician – while still at school – learning his craft on Saturday mornings at the College of Magic in Claremont, where he met soon-to-be comics Riaad Moosa and Konrad Koch. “We were like a gang of card-wielding geeks, scaring off girls with our pimple-covered faces and magic wands. I met Riaad and Conrad in 1990 which means we’ve know each other for 27 years.”
Looking through our many interviews over the years, I am reminded that Taylor did a BSC in zoology at the University of Stellenbosch. His career track shifted somewhat when, a year before he graduated, Moosa invited him to participate in a comedy gig.
“That’s right. Barney’s in Rondebosch Main Road was where it all started with people like Dave Levinsohn, Conrad Koch, Paul Snodgrass and Mark Sampson.”
As for the zoology degree: “I think what varsity taught us all was independent study. You are responsible for everything: that’s the most important lesson for any entrepreneur.”
Forty seems to be the magic number on the stand-up comedy circuit. Nik Rabinowitz, Moosa and Kurt Schoonraad (owner/operator of the Cape Town Comedy Club at The Waterfront) clocked in recently. Taylor joins the club soon. “I’ll be 40 on February 27. An entire generation of comics was born around 1976/77/78. The reason being that when this alternative scene [comedy circuit] kicked off in 1999, we were all single: finishing degrees, trying to find ourselves. We didn’t mind working for beer money or sleeping on a couch.”
The stand-up scene is booming. “It’s been an amazing ride,” said Taylor. “Back in the day you had to perform on beer crates and you’d be lucky if there was a mic Now we’re off to the friggin’ GrandArena with The Big 5 Comedy Show: 5000 seats; millions of rands worth of sound; lights. I’m really excited and humbled to be able to take it on at ‘home’.”
The Big 5 Comedy Show will tour nationally, starting in Joburg in April, Tickets at GrandWest are from R170 to R300. PG rating 16. Book at Computicket or www.computicket.com/0861 915 8000.