Stand-up comedians who are keen to get a jumpstart into their career have been sweating bullets this month. Or so I assume.
You see, at the beginning of this month, the annual Nando’s Comedy Festival began making its rounds across the country. Currently at Montecasino in Joburg, the famous festival that incorporates international and local acts will make its way down to the Walter Sisulu Theatre in Soweto next week. Then next month, it will be the Mother City’s turn.
With the likes of international comedians Orlando Jones, Louis Katz, Michael Winslow, Brian Haner, Lil Rel, Loni Love as well as SA’s David Kau in tow, it is bound to be a good couple of days of funny. And one hilarious Capetonian will get the chance to be a part of the line-up.
As is tradition, the Nando’s Comedy Festival has a few pre-shows that are called the Graça Comedy Showdown (obviously sponsored by the Graça adult beverage).
Here, comedians all over the country who are looking to break into the comedy scene get to show and prove their skills on a stage in their home town in front of many comedy lovers. Tough gig.
Durban saw Dusty Rich emerge victorious and share the stage with the likes of Kau and American funnyman Finess Mitchell. Who will represent the up-and-comers in Cape Town?
For the past month, comedians have been battling it out at Mercury Live in Zonnebloem – a club that has recently started to give a voice to local stand-up comedians. The finals of the Cape Town heats take place next week on Wednesday.
With regular comedy nights in and outside the CBD, Cape Town does not have a shortage of great comedians.
Just last year, some of the people who took part in the Graça Comedy Showdown went from being known only on their little circuits to holding their own on line-ups that include some of the country’s finest comedians.
For instance, the winner of last year’s Cape Town Graça Comedy Showdown was Carl Weber and these days he is fast becoming a name that is on a lot of people’s lips. He’s that funny.
Will this year’s showdown yield the same results? We’ll have to wait and see.
•The final Graça Comedy Showdown takes place at Mercury Live, 43 De Villiers Street, Zonnebloem on August 28. Entrance is R40 at the door.
The Nando’s Comedy Festival will be at the Artscape Theatre from September 3 to 9. Tickets: from R120 at the door.