Media release
11 September 2015
JOHANNESBURG SETS THE STAGE FOR WORLD CLASS COMEDY TALENT
FEATURING 42 COMEDIANS IN 12 SHOWS OVER 3 DAYS!
South Africa’s stature in the world of comedy continues its phenomenal rise with the launch of the
Johannesburg International Comedy Festival, which takes place over three days from 6-8 November
2015.
The festival is a multi venue, multi show comedy showcase featuring local, continental and international
talent performing at the Alexander Theatre, Orbit Jazz Café, Thirteen and the Bannister Hotel in
Braamfontein as well as The Market Theatre and Bassline in the Newtown precinct. With 42 comedians
scheduled to take part, this will undoubtedly be one of the biggest gatherings of comedy talent ever
assembled on the continent!
Over and above that, there will be fringe shows staged at popular Braamfontein venues namely
Kitcheners, Great Dane and Anti Establishment that will feature emerging talent in the build up to the
festival from 2-4 November.
The Johannesburg International Comedy Festival is built around key concept shows each featuring a
great mix of local favourites and specifically chosen international talent as follows:
•
Stand Up Africa (Alexander Theatre) – Comedy with Africa’s finest comedians sharing one stage
•
League of Nations (Alexander Theatre) – Comedy without borders featuring talent from around
the world.
•
Fire In The Hole (Bannister Hotel Basement) – Comedy with no limits or boundaries, humor that
is risky, edgy and politically incorrect.
•
The Late Nite Show (Orbit Jazz Café) – Comedy inspired by the late night talk show format of
host, live band, interactive engagement with the comedians and special music guests.
•
Live From The 13th Floor (Thirteen) – Comedy that celebrates trailblazing female talent live from
Braamfontein’s newest and sexiest venue atop the Neighbourgoods Market.
•
Vernac Attack (Bassline Theatre) – Comedy in any of South Africa’s indigenous languages, a
previously underground category that is now taking the country by storm.
•
Jokenation (Market Theatre) – Jokenation is a global talent search that seeks to find tomorrow’s
comedy stars in the US, UK, Continental Europe, Middle East / Asia as well as South Africa. The
best comedian to win this SA final will be flown to Switzerland to go and perform at the
Montreux Comedy Festival in December.
globalization of the stand up comedy art form.
In a major vote of confidence for comedy in the country, the largest comedy festival in mainland Europe the Montreux Comedy Festival in Switzerland - has partnered with prominent South African comedy
producers
Podium
to form Bimha
Productions,
which
willreads
produce
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Comics Choice Awards. Loyiso Gola, Ndumiso Lindi, John Vlismas, Kagiso Lediga, Tats Nkonzo and
Mashabela are included whilst an amazing array of comedians lies in wait to entertain on the various
Says Festival Director, Takunda Bimha, who previously managed the likes of Loyiso Gola, Trevor Noah,
stages.
Kagiso Lediga, David Kibuuka and who was the founder of Podium Comedy: “I have been dreaming about
building a world-class international comedy festival in Joburg for some time now and after securing the
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Comedyin” The
International
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international
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Mikewill put the
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African continent
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Just
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will
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Comedy Festival in Montreal, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and our
stand up comedy art form.
festival in Montreux Switzerland. After 25 years of producing Europe’s biggest comedy festival, we’re
incredibly excited about this new opportunity and the adventure that lies ahead.”
In a major vote of confidence for comedy in the country, the largest comedy festival in mainland Europe the Montreux
Comedy
Festival
Switzerland
- hasthat’s
partnered
with prominent
South
African comedy
I’m incredibly
excited
to bein
part
of this festival
an organic
extension of
the burgeoning
sub culture of
producers
Podium Comedy
form
Bimha Productions,
which will
produce The
the Johannesburg
innertocity.
Braamfontein
and Newtown
are precincts
withJohannesburg
an unbelievable energy, where
International
Comedy
Festival.
artistic and
creative
boundaries are being experienced and pushed everyday. Its the first time a comedy
festival has been done like this, taking us away from the monotony of the big casino venues and plugging
us into the
heart Takunda
of the city!
This isfounder
awesome,
we are making
history
for comedy,
for Johannesburg
and for
Says Festival
Director,
Bimha,
of Podium
Comedy,
who previously
managed
Trevor Noah
Africa…VIVA!!!
–
Kagiso
Lediga
–
Creative
Director
“I have been dreaming about building a world-class international comedy festival in Joburg for some time
now and the partnership with Montreux makes it a reality. Podium changed the face of post-apartheid
Tickets
to theAfrica,
Johannesburg
International
Festival
go on
Friday
the 11th
ofin
September
comedy
in South
and moving
forward, theComedy
intention
is to play
an sale
evenfrom
more
impactful
role
the
from
www.webtickets.co.za,
www.jicf.co.za
or
the
Festival
Facebook
page
with
prices
ranging
from
future of the genre on this continent.”
R150 to R250.
Added Gregoire Furrer of Montreux Comedy in Switzerland ” The Johannesburg International Comedy
The Johannesburg International Comedy Festival is produced by Bimha Productions in partnership with
Festival
the country
on the
worldwide
comedy
map as one of the most important comedy
thewill
Cityput
of Joburg,
Fourfirmly
Seasons
Westcliff
and DISCOP
Africa
properties in Africa. After 25 years of producing Europe’s biggest comedy festival, we are extremely
excited
about
this new opportunity and the adventure that lies ahead.”
Social
links:
Twitter: @JICF_SA
“Its great
to be part
of a festivalInternational
that’s an organic
extension
of -the
burgeoning
subculture of the
Facebook:
Johannesburg
Comedy
Festival
JICF
https://www.facebook.com/JICF.SA
Instagram:inner
JICF_SA
Johannesburg
city. In Braamfontein, a creative energy fills the air. It’s a precinct where artists are
Hashtag:
#JICF
pushing
the boundaries.
Now, this festival does the same, its taking us away from the monotony of the
big casino venues and plugging us into the heart of the city! This is awesome; we are making history for
Issued
comedy,
for by:
Johannesburg and for Africa…VIVA!!! – Kagiso Lediga – Creative Director
TOTAL EXPOSURE
011 788 8725
Tickets to the Johannesburg International Comedy Festival go on sale from Friday the 11th of September
on www.webtickets.co.za, www.jicf.co.za or the Festival Facebook page with prices ranging from R150 to
R250.
The Johannesburg International Comedy Festival is produced by Bimha Productions in partnership with
the City of Joburg, DISCOP Africa and the Four Seasons Westcliff.
globalization of the stand up comedy art form.
In a major vote of confidence for comedy in the country, the largest comedy festival in mainland Europ
the Montreux Comedy Festival in Switzerland - has partnered with prominent South African comedy
Social links:producers Podium Comedy to form Bimha Productions, which will produce The Johannesburg
International Comedy Festival.
Twitter: @JICF_SA
Facebook: Johannesburg
International
Comedy
Festival
- JICF https://www.facebook.com/JICF.SA
Says Festival Director,
Takunda
Bimha,
who previously
managed the likes of Loyiso Gola, Trevor Noah,
Instagram: Kagiso
JICF_SALediga, David Kibuuka and who was the founder of Podium Comedy: “I have been dreaming ab
building a world-class international comedy festival in Joburg for some time now and after securing th
Hashtag: #JICF
partnership with the Montreux Comedy Festival, decided that the time to do that is now. I hope that th
Issued by: Podium legacy that we leave behind will always be remembered for the sizeable contribution we mad
changing the face of comedy in post-apartheid South Africa and taking comedy to a broader audience
TOTAL EXPOSURE
moving forward the intention is to play an even more impactful, inclusive and globally facing role in th
011 788 8725
future of the genre on this continent.
Added Gregoire Furrer of Montreux Comedy ” The Johannesburg International Comedy Festival will pu
Diane Chidrawi
country firmly on the worldwide comedy map as one of the most important comedy properties on the
[email protected]
African continent joining other big names on the international festival circuit such as the Just For Laug
Comedy Festival in Montreal, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and
Ann Toerien
festival in Montreux Switzerland. After 25 years of producing Europe’s biggest comedy festival, we’re
[email protected]
incredibly excited about this new opportunity and the adventure that lies ahead.”
I’m incredibly excited to be part of this festival that’s an organic extension of the burgeoning sub cultur
the Johannesburg inner city. Braamfontein and Newtown are precincts with an unbelievable energy, w
artistic and creative boundaries are being experienced and pushed everyday. Its the first time a comed
festival has been done like this, taking us away from the monotony of the big casino venues and plugg
us into the heart of the city! This is awesome, we are making history for comedy, for Johannesburg and
Africa…VIVA!!! – Kagiso Lediga – Creative Director
Tickets to the Johannesburg International Comedy Festival go on sale from Friday the 11th of Septemb
from www.webtickets.co.za, www.jicf.co.za or the Festival Facebook page with prices ranging from
R150 to R250.
The Johannesburg International Comedy Festival is produced by Bimha Productions in partnership wit
the City of Joburg, Four Seasons Westcliff and DISCOP Africa
Social links:
Twitter: @JICF_SA
Facebook: Johannesburg International Comedy Festival - JICF https://www.facebook.com/JICF.SA
Instagram: JICF_SA
Hashtag: #JICF
Issued by:
TOTAL EXPOSURE
011 788 8725