Theatre News South Africa

Top International Trio Take to the Stage in July at Parker's Comedy & Jive

Parker's Comedy & Jive celebrates July - because we can - by inviting a trio of top international acts to share the stage with our funniest South African comedians. America's Sean Kent (2-4 and 9-11 July), Australian Colin Cole (16-18 and 23-25 July) and Englishman John Fothergill (31 & 31 July and 1 August and 6-8 August) will battle for laughs with talented South African comics Chris Forrest, Al Prodgers, Trevor Noah, Joey Rasdien, Joe Parker and a host of others this month!
Top International Trio Take to the Stage in July at Parker's Comedy & Jive

Sean Kent (2-4 and 9-11 July) returns for a second stint at Parker's after performing at the venue's opening in December - this time, hopefully his luggage will arrive with him! Sean has been performing live across the US and abroad for over 12 years. The Texas native's incisive socio-political comedy has featured on E! Entertainment, Comedy Central, Fox Sports Net, CBS, NBC, VH1 and more.

In a recent review of his live stage show, Cinamablend.com called his performance “seamless… Kent manages the unthinkable without ever appearing out of place.”

His full length CD "Sex, Drugs and Politics" is currently in heavy rotation on XM Radio and Sirius Satellite, where it was hailed “an instant classic."

Sean was recently chosen as the featured comic on Myspace.com and is widely known as a series regular on NBC's Last Comic Standing where his performances were labeled “Edgy and daring.”

A cancer survivor, Sean Kent also works to raise awareness by speaking and performing at a variety of annual charity events, including the Cancer for College Fundraiser with Will Ferrell and the City of Hope Bone Marrow Transplant Reunion.

Kent's talents aren't limited to performing, either. He has recently written for or appeared on: Last Comic Standing Seasons 1 and 3 (NBC); 40 Smokin' On-Set Hookups (E! Entertainment Television); The Comedy Central Roast of Pam Anderson (Comedy Central); The Bob and Tom Show (nationally syndicated in over 150 markets); The Best Damn Sports Show Period (Fox Sports Net); and Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials (CBS).

Australia's Colin Cole (16-18 and 23-25 July) - at 6'7”, ‘Big Col' to his friends and ‘Sir' to everyone else - made waves on the English comedy circuit during an exploratory trip a few years ago and they haven't been able to get rid of him since! Rated as one of the biggest names in comedy in Australia, his delivery is fast and furious and his material ranges from the topical to the observational. Apart from his time hogging the spotlight on the stand-up stage, Colin has been an actor for many years. He has toured extensively in the US, Canada and Hawaii and is on his way to conquering Europe too.

Comedian and actor John Fothergill (31 & 31 July and 1 August and 6-8 August) hails from Crawcrook, a small village in the North East of England. After spending the majority of his childhood trying to convince the rest of the community that he was a very special child, they finally agreed and after the traditional tar and feathering, banished him to the nearest city - the vast metropolis of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

His employment history varies from cleaning the deck and galley of a gas rig in the middle of the North Sea, to sound man at a quakers meeting (which consists mainly of silent contemplation), to the obvious move to professional bongo player.

However, it was while working as a casual scenery mover at a local theatre that he found his true vocation as a pirate in a Gilbert and Sullivan opera. Unfortunately John was far less adept at the singing and acting part as he was at the general behaving like a drunken seafarer, so this was to be short-lived.

John's unique style mixes the delivery of embarrassing sexual revelations with a rural innocence. He has also toured Ireland and performed in Hong Kong and regularly at the Edinburgh Festival and Adelaide International Comedy Festival.

The July 2009 Lineup at Parker's is:

2-4 July

Joe Parker
Chris Forrest
Vittori
Sean Kent (USA)

9 July

Joe Parker
Bevan Cullinan
Nqoba Ngcobo
Sean Kent (USA)

10 & 11 July

Tony King
Bevan Cullinan
Nqoba Ngcobo
Sean Kent (USA)

16 July

Joe Parker
Al Prodgers
Tshepo Mogale
Colin Cole (AUS)

17 & 18 July

Darren Maule
Al Prodgers
Tshepo Mogale
Colin Cole (AUS)

23-25 July

Joe Parker
Trevor Noah
Chris Mapane
Colin Cole (AUS)

30 July

Joe Parker
Joey Rasdien
Roni Modimola
John Fothergill (UK)

31 July

Tony King
Kedibone
Roni Modimola
John Fothergill (UK)

Parker's Comedy & Jive is situated near the cinemas at Montecasino at Shop 24, next to the Boogaloos Skate Park. Bookings are now open via Computicket (www.computicket.com) and admission fees are between R80 and R100. For more information, visit www.parkerscomedy.com or call (011) 511 0081 or 0861 GIGGLE. Lineups subject to change at short notice.

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