For the love of comedy… and throwing tomatoes
The stand-up comedy scene began in 1999 in a big way, with the emergence of a formal comedy circuit and the establishment of the Cape Comedy Collective (no longer in existence).
Kurt Schoonraad, who owns and operates the Cape Town Comedy Club at The Pumphouse, V&A Waterfront, was part of the first wave of comics. In addition to performing, he plays a vital role in promoting the careers of young comics.
This year the club hosted The Savanna Show Us Your Apples Competition – a platform to give new comics a shot at breaking into the mainstream. Lindy Johnson, 23, won. One of her prizes was a slot at the Jive Cape Town Comedy Festival at the Baxter, held in June/July.
Johnson wowed the crowds and has become a prolific player on the comedy circuit. Catch her tomorrow and on Sunday at the Cape Town Comedy Club – the place where she was catapulted into the comedy scene.
For years, The Jive Cape Town Comedy Festival has had what was has been termed as the “developmental”, “emerging comic” slot or whatnot. There is much anticipation to see how the poor sod is who has won the toss. Comedy audiences can be brutal.
source: iol.co.za