Soweto International Comedy Festival (3 – 4 May)

The annual Soweto International Comedy Festival is coming to the Soweto Theater on 3 and 4 May 2013.

This time around Premium Comedy is bringing us international comedy heavyweights, Griff of Def Comedy Jams (USA), Magic  Man (Canada), Martin Davis (UK) and George Kuda (Zimbabwe) will be headlining the shows. We've rounded up some of the funniest minds abroad to tickle our funny bones with their witty and controversial jokes.

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Griff (USA) is a native of California who now resides in Atlanta, Georgia. Blessed (and cursed) with a raspy baritone voice, this insomniac headliner’s quick wit and sometimes-dark improve is a sure-fire hit. He claims to be the only African American who knows what the sport of cricket is …and probably one of few Americans who knows that Johannesburg downtown area makes New York City look small!

Comedian by night and morning show radio personality by day, Griff has opened for major acts like The Kings and Queens of Comedy and DL Hughley. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his commentary on the “Street Skillz” radio show and hosted Fox Sports’ “Thunderbox”.

Martin Davis (UK): Looking like some bizarre marionette tug-of-love struggle between Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, Martin Davis skids and bounces across the stage, strung up and tugged around by unknown forces, firing off a relentless rapid-fire assault that hits every corner of the room and kills 100% of all known hecklers stone dead. Going where mere joke-tellers fear to tread with his characteristic kamikaze bravado ("Go on, heckle me") he walks the razor edge of audience participation, daring them to pick him off it.

However, giggling does not stop there – Martin has wowed audiences at the Kilkenny International Comedy Festival, The Smirnoff Mule Comedy Festival in Durban and Cape Town, South Africa, and the Lowlands Festival, Holland. 1999 ended with a sell-out one-man show in Grahamstown and Ratanga Junction, Cape Town. With several years of acting experience behind him, Martin has wide appeal, from appearances in the BBC production of Bulla, starring Ricky Grover, to a variety of foreign adverts.

This will be a reunion for Martin Davis and the Zimbabwean-born George Kuda who has been a comedian since 2007 at Nomad Comedy's Open Mic Nights at Tony's Bar and Grill, Randburg. Kuda has shared stages with renowned stand-up comedians such as Martin Jonas, John Vlismas, Vittoria Leonardi, Joe Parker, Alyn Adams, Chris Forrest, Ronnie Madimola, Many Knight (UK), Darren Maule, Trevor Noah and Al Prodgers.

World-class performer Magic Man is one of the most experienced and well-travelled magicians in the country. He has been touring North America, Canada and Asia for the past 15 years building an impressive list of achievements. From the Rolling Stones at the Sticky Fingers restaurant in London to the "wrap-up" party in Vancouver for U2's Zooropa Tour, Magic Man has entertained the finest.

He has worked at the Edinburgh Festival and headlined at top nightspots across Europe, Canada and South Korea. He also spent two years on some of the finest cruise-liners in the world, entertaining the rich and famous.

This promises to be a world class event, comedians coming together to bring us a fresh approach in comedy. Make sure you book your seats.

 

Ayanda Sotshisa

ayandasotshisa@yahoo.com

011 057 2207

081 367 5897

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