(Benny
Bushwhacker (aka Ben Voss).)
The Republic of South Africa proudly
welcomes home, Benny Bushwhacker, world renowned conservationist, environmental
campaigner, and the only man to have thrice walked the length of Africa
barefoot. The legend returns to share what it takes to survive the African bush
… and for the African bush to survive.
The genial South African born, Benny
Bushwhacker (aka Ben Voss), who recently made world headlines for banging heads
with swashbuckling British survivalist, Bear Grylls, will be touring South
Africa’s theatres and festivals with an hilarious yet sobering look at the
collision between man and environment. For somebody who has spent more time
away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life than a hibernating Arctic wood
frog, Benny Bushwhacker brings untainted humanity and delicious humour to his
performance that will have you laughing out loud and wondering why, when it
comes to the bush, the most uncommon human trait, is common sense.
Whether it be his opinion on changing the
Springbok emblem, how to spot a bullshitter in Kruger, or the relative chances
of his estranged wife, Brenda, replacing the buffalo in the Big 5, Benny
delivers time and again with his unique sense of humour and classic bush
logic.
While touring South Africa Benny
Bushwhacker will be raising awareness and moola for the Lebombo Leopard - Human
Conflict Survey. And while leopards are not known to change their spots,
through this initiative, Benny will try to help humans to do so.
Benny Bushwhacker’s stories and experiences
have been translated from bush to page by his unofficial biographer, John van
de Ruit (of Spud fame), and from page
to stage by the lioness of theatre, Janice Honeyman.
Ben Voss is an actor, comedian, writer and
producer. He was schooled at South Africa’s first non-racial school and has a
degree in mechanical engineering as well as a B-Com honours in Human Resources.
He has written, produced and starred in the hit shows Green Mamba (2006), Black
Mamba (2008) and Mamba Republic (2017).
These shows toured in over 10 countries and scooped all South Africa’s major
theatre awards. However, Ben is perhaps best known for his alter-ego Beauty
Ramapeleple who has been a regular voice on Jacaranda FM, East Coast Radio as
well as the Roger Goode show on 5Fm. His
two stage productions, Bend it like
Beauty and Beauty and the BEE both
toured the country and had acclaimed runs at London’s Oval House theatre. Ben’s
most recent movie credits include Mr Lilly in the Spud series. He played the lead in Robert Fraser’s Game and the supporting lead in Craig
Friemond’s Beyond the River –b oth
released in 2017.He also produced the theatrical spectacular Wickedly Odd –The Night Garden in
conjunction with the Durban Botanic Gardens and played Evil Queen Hildagona in
Janice Honeyman’s 2018 Snow White
Pantomime. In 2019 her eleases his new alter ego–Benny Bushwhacker
John van de Ruit is an actor, playwright
and author who was been educated at Michaelhouse and received a Master’s degree
in Drama and Performance studies from The University of KwaZulu-Natal. His
highly successful stage shows of Green
Mamba, Black Mamba and Mamba Republic
(in collaboration with Ben Voss) performed to sell-out audiences around South
Africa as well as receiving numerous awards.
His debut novel, Spud, has been a publishing phenomenon in South Africa, smashing
all local publishing records and was awarded the Bookseller’s choice award in
2006. Following Spud’s release in
September 2005, Spud - the Madness
Continues (April 2007) has been hot on its heels, also receiving rave
reviews and both books have since been published in The USA and UK as well as
being translated into Italian (Patata) Russian (Manek) and Portuguese (Cotoco).
The penultimate book in the side-splitting series, Spud - Learning to Fly was released in June 2009. This novel
received the Bookseller’s choice award 2010. The last book in the series, Spud - Exit Pursued by a Bear was
released in South Africa in August 2012. Spud
has crept into the hearts of readers across the world and was recently placed
11th on Exclusive Book’s “101 books to read before you die”.
A feature film of John’s first novel, Spud, was released in Southern Africa in
December 2010 starring John Cleese as the eccentric Guv and Troye Sivan in the
title role. The movie debuted at number one at the South African box office and
is now being distributed internationally. Also available in December 2010 was The Making of Spud the Movie and How a Wickedly Splendid Plan Came Together
written in conjunction with the film’s producer, Ross Garland. A film based on Spud - The Madness Continues was on
screens nationwide in June 2013. The film of Spud – Learning to Fly released in November 2014.
John has been working on his new novel
which is due to hit the shelves in 2020. He is also in collaboration with Voss
on their new comedy, Benny Bushwhacker,
which will tour South Africa.
Book soon for this wonderful look at life
on the wild side, because, like the rhinos of Africa, you never know if you
will get the chance to see it again.
Benny
Bushwhacker runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre
Durban from July 29 to August 11, 2019, and then at the Hexagon Theatre in
Pietermaritzburg from November 4 to 9, 2019. The duration is one hour 15
minutes, no interval
Tickets R150 (R100 child (3 to 18 years)
and R120 block bookings of 8 or more). Booking is through Computicket.
Age Restriction - NO under 3s or babies on
laps
Benny
Bushwhacker starts off his national tour at the
National Arts Festival in Makhanda (Grahamstown),
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