national Arts Festival Banner

Saturday, January 20, 2018

KINGS & QUEENS OF COMEDY BIGGEST LINE-UP YET



One of South Africa’s longest running flagship comedy brands, Kings & Queens of Comedy, returns to Durban with its biggest line-up in six years.

Going on six years of Kings & Queens of Comedy, the show started in 2012 in Johannesburg and has since grown to be one of the leading comedy brands in South Africa, promoting and showcasing local talent from around the country. Bringing world-class comedy to Durban, this comedy extravaganza sees comic giants from around South Africa entertaining audiences at the Durban ICC on February 9, 2018.

Shining their comical armour and sharpening their witty swords, the stellar line-up includes Darren Maule (MC), Annalakshmi, Arnotte Payne, Celeste Ntuli, Donovan Goliath, Glen Biederman-Pam, Jason Goliath, Joey Rasdien, Khanyisa Bunu, Leeanda Reddy, Logie Naidoo, Marc Lottering, Riaad Moosa, Rory Petzer, Sagie Murugan and Sifiso Nene, with a guest appearance by Morgan Beatbox.

“We pride ourselves on bringing world-class South African comedians to stages around the country.  You are getting a massive line-up of headliner comedians from start to finish. We’ve picked the cream of the crop and we’re excited to bring an even bigger and better Kings & Queens of Comedy to Durban in 2018,” comments Osman Osman, MD of Blu Blood.

Having made a name for himself over the past two decades, Darren Maule’s humour, intelligent banter and storytelling and raucous laughter has made him a household name across Durban, which is why he returns to centre stage as the host of this royal affair.

Anasia Govender’s quirky character, Annalakshmi, loves telling stories and giving a candid commentary. Singing in a variety of Indian and English songs, her parodies are witty, funny and honest and she is fast becoming one of the most recognised entertainers in the industry.

Durban local, Arnotte Payne, dishes out the funny with his clean and versatile comedy style, guaranteed to have the audience in stitches.

Queen of Zulu Comedy, Celeste Ntuli, has always been a joker, so it was no surprise when she decided to pursue comedy as a career. Guaranteed to have audiences in stitches, she is straightforward, bold and outspoken, traits which have fans coming back for more.

Bringing a lot of character and energy to the stage, Donovan Goliath’s lively manner of storytelling has made him a prolific stand-up act who is set to get the laughs rolling in.

Glen Biederman-Pam is not only a UCT graduate in theatre and performance, he shines on stage and local TV screens as a stand-up comic. A rising star, Glen he wins over the crowd with his confident and animated delivery and train of thought.

Jason Goliath is larger than life (it’s all because his big personality won’t fit into a smaller body). His infectious energy and laugh has made him one of South Africa’s most sought-after comedians.

Joey Rasdien doesn’t need much of an introduction. Instantly recognisable, his endearing stage person is intellectually absurd, physically hysterical and thought-provoking.

Teacher-turned-comedienne, Khanyisa Bunu is a fan favourite.  She was the first woman to win the audience choice award at the Comics’ Choice Awards and has also made her mark on South African TV with roles in various series.

Leeanda Reddy is not only beautiful but she has a bevy of talents. A familiar face on South African stages and screens, she has proved time and time again that she has a flair for comedy with her outrageously funny skits.

Politicians often provide comics with plenty of material, which means that Durban’s socialite politician, Loganathan (Logie) Naidoo, should have no problem with getting the crowd going by adding an interesting and colourful twist to the night’s hilarities.

There’s no missing that trademark ‘fro’…  Hailing from Cape Town, Marc Lottering is one of South Africa’s top comedians and has been in the comedy industry for almost 20 years. He is the consummate storyteller and continues to keep audiences in stitches across the country and abroad.

Riaad Moosa is one of South Africa’s most acclaimed funny-men. He certainly seems to have the remedy for the nation’s ills – a healthy dose of laughter, straight up – hold the aspirin – as he gives the audience a snapshot into his life, a father of three kids, husband, comedian, actor and with all the current cultural and political issues thrown in.

No stranger to the KNQ line-up, Rory Petzer is happiest with a microphone in his hand. He is a natural at making people laugh hysterically with his hilarious jokes and witty puns.

One of Durban’s well-seasoned comedians, Sagie Murugan brings his own unique flavour to the stage as he captivates his audiences with a special brand of laugh-out-loud comedy, tackling stereotypes and narrating hilarious tales.

Off stage, Sifiso Nene is a man of few words. On stage, however, telling jokes is the only place he feels completely at home. His passion and determination, sprinkled with talent, has seen him winning awards and the hearts of comedy fans around the country.

Always adding a spin to the Kings & Queens of Comedy events, international celebrity beatboxer, Morgan Beatbox, makes a guest appearance.

Kings & Queens of Comedy has one performance on February 9, 2018, at 20h00 at the Durban ICC. Tickets from R200 available through Computicket online and the various retail outlets. The show is rated PG16.

The production is presented by Blu Blood in association with East Coast Radio and Comedy Central. Follow Blu Blood (@BluBloodSA) or visit www.blublood.com for more information.