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| Comedy goes schizo at The Book Cafe |
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| News - Artists' Spotlight |
| Tuesday, 30 June 2009 08:10 |
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In July Comedian Michael ‘K’ Kudakwashe comes out this Thursday with a multi-faceted performance, newly branded as ‘LOOSE SCREWS - The question is Who’s Crazy? The true answer is – We all are! The new show features several guest characters including TOUT from Mufakose,ZHING ZHONG from Beijing, LOLLIPOP SWEET a community service provider from the Avenues addressing issues of gender and real life on the streets; TUUS BOTHA – an old South African’s commentary on the new South Africa; GUPTAL from the corner shop, and Nigerian businessman CHUKU. The line-up alone promises a fast-paced, lightning trip around the world with hilarious consequences. The show ushers in a new season of comedy at The Book Café, where laughter has been rolling through the years every Thursday night, sharing the gift of humour and helping Zimbabweans to laugh at themselves, and their worries. MICHAEL KUDAKWASHE is a talented and versatile theatre, film and TV actor, and acclaimed comedian and caricaturist. who is well known in Zimbabwe from comedy and other TV and theatre productions, and performs stand-up comedy every week at The Book Café in Harare. In June 2008 he starred in the highly acclaimed play ‘Great Escape’ by Zimbabwean playwright Andrew Whaley, which ran in Harare, Mbabane/Swaziland, and Johannesburg. Later the same year he went on to feature in the US production of ‘The History Boys’ by Alan Bennett, after a successful audition by Giles Ramsay of UK-based charitable arts trust, ‘Developing Arts’. STAND-UP COMEDY in Zimbabwe was pioneered at The Book Café several years ago, where the regular Thursday night slot featured the well-known Edgar Langedveldt, who went on to win a prestigious international prize in Europe a few years ago. Following him, came the talented duo Victor Mavedzenge and Michael Kudakwashe performing as ‘The Guests’ from 2006, and since 2008, ‘Michael K’ has succeeded in maintaining a strong profile for comedy in Zimbabwe, still holding down the Thursday 8pm slot, keeping audiences laughing through the good times and bad. This JULY, the comedy night takes on a new ‘persona’ entitled LOOSE SCREWS – a hilarious schizophrenic shift from one-man comedy to the multi-characters of Mike Kudakwashe. A colourful, fast-paced trip around the globe reveals several colourful and unforgettable characters, and the ability to laugh at ourselves – and everyone else! Thursday night at The Book Café is possibly the only platform for regular stand-up comedy in the country, and Pamberi Trust at The Book Café encourages comedians and other funny people to step forward and participate in the development of comedy on our stages. COMEDY IS A SPECIAL ART FORM that is a valuable tool for social development in any society; it addresses issues which may be taboo in a context other than laughter, and helps people to diminish their fears by facing them – and laughing at them. The art is not as easy as it looks: the comedian must be up-to-date in terms of current news and happenings, jokes that may be circulating, and international news also. To keep an audience entertained for a couple of hours is also very demanding in terms of research and creativity. Pamberi Trust want to promote that creativity and put Zimbabwean comedians onto the regional and international map, along with the rest of the world. Michael K welcomes the chance to help build comedy in Zimbabwe. He said: “LOOSE SCREWS includes an open mic slot for those who think they are funny - because after all, Who’s Crazy? We ALL are!” The show is adult-oriented and starts at 8.30pm The restaurant provides full bar and a tasty dinner menu, with fireside tables for those who come early. |