Comedy channel Comedy Central (DStv channel 122) and Savanna Premium Cider have joined forces to create The Comedy Central International Comedy Festival Brought to you by Savanna – an annual, super-sized comedy extravaganza designed to bring smiles to the faces of South African comedy fans.
Funny, fearless and original, SA’s first Comedy Central International Comedy Festival will bring African and international comedy stars together under one roof for a hilarious, world-class celebration of comedy genius.
With its charismatic appeal and avid support of stand-up comedy, Savanna Premium Cider is the perfect partner for this ground-breaking Festival.
Playing to packed audiences at the Silverstar Casino, Johannesburg from 26 November-5 December 2015, the Festival will combine spectacular gala concerts at The Globe with more intimate Late Night Comedy shows and side-splitting Open Mic sessions at Parker’s Comedy Club, themed specials, late-night sketch shows, spontaneous street theatre and Improv comedy “happenings” at other venues around Silverstar.
Trevor Noah, fresh from his hosting duties at The Daily Show, will kick off the Festival with gala performances of his upcoming SA tour, NationWild, at The Globe (26-28 November), while US stand-up legend and Comedy Central “Roastmaster General” Jeff Ross will make his first ever trip to South Africa to head The Roast Gala (Friday 4 December). Batting for the home team, SA comedy favourite Schalk Bezuidenhout will feature in The Afrikaans Comedy Show (Saturday 5 December).
Commented Trevor Noah, ‘It’s always so much fun performing with this many amazing comedians and Comedy Central Africa has done an amazing job of putting on this world-class festival.”
Quipped Jeff Ross, “I’m so excited to be performing in South Africa for the first time that not even the vuvuzelas can drown me out.”
In honour of the thriving SA comedy scene, The Comedy Central International Comedy Festival puts SA comedians front and centre stage, appearing alongside the international comedians at the gala performances, and featuring in multiple themed events including an Afrikaans comedy special, and a dedicated “’Vernac” show. Goliath & Goliath will stage The Goliath Comedy Experience as part of the Festival.
Representing the continent’s comedy talent, Nigerian superstar Basketmouth will also bring his own distinctive brand of funny to the Festival in the form of a star-packed Best of Africa comedy showcase that promises to emulate the success of his latest comedy spectacular “Comedy Central Presents Lord of the Ribs”. Ugandan comedian Salvador will join the line-up. More comedians will be announced at a later date.
Designed to empower and uplift South African comedy and comedians, the Comedy Central International Comedy Festival will also include a series of workshops and master-classes by comedians, promoters and specialists, helping comedians to hone and develop their craft.
Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, “As we celebrate Viacom International Media Networks Africa’s tenth anniversary, we are excited to launch this definitive comedy festival on the continent. The Comedy Central International Comedy Festival provides a great platform for African and international comedians to showcase their amazing talent to comedy fans”.
Added Evert van der Veer, Head of Comedy Central, Africa, “We are delighted to fulfil a long-held Comedy Central ambition to create an international festival here in Johannesburg that celebrates and highlights the vibrancy of the SA comedy scene – both now and for years to come. Attracting comedy fans from all over the world to enjoy a fabulous line-up of international and African comedy, The Comedy Central International Comedy Festival not only provides hilarious entertainment for comedy fans and TV viewers, but also performs a perfect double whammy by simultaneously uplifting and rewarding the local comedy industry.”
“In the sharp-witted world of Savanna, with its signature dry take on intelligent humour, bringing these giants of local and international comedy together is a triumph for us,” says Marcel Swain, Savanna SA Marketing Manager. “Since its launch in 1996, Savanna has always been an ardent supporter of comedy not just through the maverick characters in our iconic TV advertisements, but also by supporting comedy festivals and shows in all their guises throughout the country. We are especially excited to part of the first truly international comedy festival in South Africa – a first for the country and both brands.”
Tickets for The Comedy Central International Comedy Festival go on sale at Computicket from Tuesday 6 October priced from R120 to R650.
The Comedy Central International Comedy Festival Brought to you by Savanna is executive produced by Comedy Central (Africa) in association with Creative Director and renowned South African comedy producer and entrepreneur Ryan Harduth.
For more information about The Comedy Central International Comedy Festival, please go to www.comedycentralafrica.com, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/comedycentralafrica or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @comedycentralAF. To join the conversation on social media, please use the hashtag #CCIComedyFest.