Durban - Seated close to the stage, the crowd was in stitches as comedians at last month’s Savanna Comedy Week delivered their punchy, controversial material to a laid back crowd at the Amsterdam Bar in Glenwood.
In an intimate, relaxed setting, there was no subject off limits.
And this time around, fresh from his “The Divorce Tour”, Trevor Gumbi, known for his controversial wit, is in the Savanna Comedy Week line-up.
Gumbi, a South African Film & Television Awards (Safta) nominee, is also known for his roles in a number of tv shows including Ses’Top La on SABC1, Jozi Zoo on e.tv as well as Sober Companion on SABC3.
He has in the past not shied away from jokes relating to his drug addiction.
Gumbi, now divorced, has also drawn some humorous material from this experience.
Trevor Gumbi
The week of fun starts on Wednesday, with a Comedy Night at Station 43. The Savanna Comedy Week, hosted by On Fire Comedy’s Jem Atkins, will then play at three venues, the first kicking off on Thursday at the Amsterdam Bar, followed by an event on Friday at the Gateway Hotel and on Saturday at Butlers Restaurant in Hillcrest.
Atkins has been hosting and headlining shows for several years and has performed with some of the biggest names in the country.
Also featuring is comedian Mojak Lehoko, who has in the past been nominated for an international Emmy for his writing for Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola.
He draws inspiration from the dusty streets of the townships, as well as the lush green suburbs.
Jem Atkins
Also keeping the audience laughing will be Zimbabweanborn comedian, Long John, whose real name is Learnmore Mwanyenyeka.
Over the past eight years, Long John has risen from “Zimbabwean funny man” to “acclaimed African comedian”, having performed all over South Africa and the UK. He is also expected to hit audiences in Durban with his punchlines.
Bringing something different to the Comedy Week is Durbanite Mo Vawda who uses beat-boxing skills in his material. If you’re a fan of accents, Mo’s your guy.
Comedian Neil Green, who has just finished a countrywide tour with three of South Africa’s biggest comedians as part of the Johannesburg International Comedy Festival’s “Trending Comics”, will also be on stage.
Tickets are R100 and available at
www.QUICKET.co.za or at the door on the night. e-mail: [email protected]