South Africa’s favourite comedy show, the Jive Cape Town Funny Festival, opens at The Baxter Theatre from Thursday, May 28, to Sunday, June 21, with a stellar cast of local comedians, international performers, and the winner of The Jive Funny Championships, and a live band.
What started as a festival that celebrated freedom of expression and an art form in its infancy in 1997 has developed into the country’s largest and now oldest comedy project. Over the past twenty-six years, The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival has assisted numerous artists in finding their feet in the industry and assisted others in becoming household names.
Sixteen years ago, it developed its own platform for aspiring funny people to showcase their craft in the hope of being spotted. The Jive Funny Championships, held at the Canal Walk Auditorium during April to mid-May, offer the winner a spot at the festival as its main prize.
Four up-and-coming comedians from the championships will also be featured at the funny festival, one per week, for the duration.
The festival has progressed from its early days of pure stand-up comedy to adding variety acts in 2005, and now adding live music in 2026.
Founder and festival director Eddy Cassar has sourced three variety acts from Europe and the UK this year, including singing impersonator Michael Woodhams, a finalist in Britain’s Got Talent, balloon artist Dani Regano from Spain, and Italian shadow puppeteer Matteo Fraziano.
Cape Town mayor, Geordon Hill-Lewis, said the funny festival was an invaluable springboard for emerging performers, including the winner of the Jive Funny Championships.
“We are proud and excited to welcome back the Jive Cape Town Funny Festival to our iconic Baxter Theatre. Since 1997, this premier celebration of comedy has brought joy to our city and showcased the very best of South Africa’s remarkable comedic talent," said Cape Town mayor Geordon Hill-Lewis.
The international artists will be joined by Johannesburg comedians Robby Collins and Jason Goliath, and Cape Town's Emo Adams. Sean de Vries will lead the music with his Funny Festival band, while Comedy Hall of Fame inductee Alan Committee returns as master of ceremonies for his seventeenth year.
"We have become known for presenting different acts, and we work closely with Simon Cowell's Got Talent projects, international cabaret show Majestique, and Cirque Du Soleil," said Mr Cassar.
The festival is recognized as a blue-chip event by top-level performers worldwide. The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival's preferred beneficiary is Things on Wheels, run by Kamile Abbas, which feeds thousands of schoolchildren throughout the city daily.
JiVE cooldrinks has been a proud sponsor for 16 years. As a celebration of this partnership, JiVE introduces a Funny Flavour each year. From April, consumers can enjoy the newest flavour innovation, available through all major retailers and local spazas.
Tickets are available from Webtickets, with generous discounts for groups of ten or more. Visit www.funnyfestival.co.za for more information.