Laughter meets opportunity as the Jive Cape Town Funny Festival continues its mission to spotlight fresh comedic talent.
Since launching The Jive Funny Championships in 2012, the festival has created a platform where rising comedians can step into the spotlight and prove they have what it takes to share the stage with some of the biggest names in comedy.
“It’s what most aspiring comics dream about”, says Yaaseen Barnes, who runs The Championships.
“I won the competition a few years ago, and it vaulted me into this industry from which I now make a living. I am in a privileged position of being able to mentor young, aspirant funny people and show them the benefit of entering the competition”, he said.
“If your friends think you’re funny, you should enter The Championships, or if you’re doing open-mike spots at clubs in the city, you need to enter. We are heading for a record entry, so you will certainly not be alone," he said, adding that many fresh faces have entered, which is so encouraging to witness.
”Comedy in Cape Town is alive and well”, he said, adding that the competition is open to everyone, from people who keep their friends laughing, to those who create funny videos online, to the undiscovered comedians playing the underground, stand-up circuit.
"We also want to find funny magicians, ventriloquists, or anyone with a funny three-minute set, who is interested in pursuing an entertainment career. By entering, you gain the opportunity to perform for your peers on a professional stage and discover exactly where you are in the industry."
The initial entries will be screened at the Canal Walk Auditorium on Saturday, April 18, and the top 24 will be allocated into four semi-finals, all held every Wednesday thereafter at the same venue.
Six performers will participate in each of the four semi-finals, at which one finalist is selected weekly. The grand finals, also held at Canal Walk, will produce a winner, who gets to perform on The Jive Cape Town FunnyFestival at The Baxter Theatre for the entire festival.
This year, we will select four other finalists to perform a short piece, one per week, so that we broaden the experience of performing on the biggest comedy stage in the country. The schedule of events is as follows:
Entries close on Thursday, April 16. The screening of all entrants will take place on Saturday, April 18.
Wednesday, April 22 – Heat 1
Wednesday, April 29 – Heat 2
Wednesday, May 6 – Heat 3
Wednesday, May 13 – Heat 4
Wednesday, May 20 – Final
Tickets for the heats and finals are available at Webtickets.
For more information, visit www.jivefunnychampionships.co.za