FUNNY FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF LAUGHTER
The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a month-long run featuring local and international comics.
From 10 June to 7 July 2024, the Baxter Theatre will host no less than 27 shows.
“We’ve got an excellent line-up this year as we turn 25, which is a very special milestone of which I am very proud,” says festival director Eddy Cassar,
The 2024 schedule will include performances comedic talents including Dalin Oliver, Khanyisa Bunu, Dillan Oliphant, Sifiso Nene, Kagiso KG Mokgadi and Yaseen Barnes.
American circus artist/comedian Mario Queen of the Circus and British-Armenian comedic pianist Kev Orkian – return to Cape Town to join the likes of award-winning local performers Emo and Loukmaan Adams and comedy supremo Alan Committie for the full run of the festival.
Founded by Cassar in 1997, the festival has opened its stage to over 100 performers including providing an opportunity to emerging comics.
In the last two decade and a half, the Funny Festival has had some heavyweight comics grace its stage.
From Trevor Noah, Riaad Moosa, Marc Lottering to Jimmy Carr, the Funny Festival has become a global comic institution.
Over that period, it has hosted comic talent such as Tumi Morake, Nik Rabinowitz, Alan Committie, Lee Mac, Adam Hills, Russell Peters, Paul Zerdin, Nina Conti, Tape Face and many others from around the globe.
A PLATFORM FOR NEW COMICS
The Funny Festival’s long-standing legacy is rooted in its ability to provide a platform to new comics while also seamlessly integrating local and international acts to foster cultural exchange.
“Eddy’s festival – after all, that’s what it really is – affords every comedian and performer the privilege of walking onto the Baxter Theatre stage nightly, with a built-in, loyal, 650-strong comedy audience … this is the most precious gift that any artist could ask for, regardless of how long you’ve been in the business,” says Lottering.
The introduction of the Jive Funny Championship has provided the funny festival with a wider pool of new talent to select for its programme.
The championship, held over eight weeks ahead of the main festival, has served as a showcase for emerging comic looking for a foothold into the industry.
The winner gets to perform on the main stage during the Funny Festival’s run.
Tickets cost R210 each through Webtickets. Generous discounts are offered for corporate and group bookings.
