Stand-Up South Africa is a great chance for comedy fans to sample everything that's going on there - from Mark Banks, their most famous satirist (in his own show, Ek's 'n Doos), to a real old-style comic like Mel Miller, the original cantankerous old bloke. And David Kau, a young black guy who did so well at Just For Laughs in Montreal. Or surf dude Cokey Falkow, a former roofer.
South African comedy is a mixed bag. Only some of it is political. Unlike this country, South Africa doesn't have a big tradition of stand-up. Its comedians rely more on satire, sketches and revue. What's interesting of late is the opening of some intimate comedy venues. I've been to Cape Town, done the big Smirnoff-sponsored tents, the grand stages and the alternative small-seaters. I've also done gigs on the coast in places that are so old-fashioned they're like Brighton meets Cheltenham. One place near Cape Town was great - while I was on the outdoor stage, hundreds of whales were having it off near the shore.
The South Africans are an interesting bunch. They are more grateful than we are in London - we're used to having the largest comedy scene in the world. Because they're starved for entertainment, you can't take anything for granted. It still has a cutting edge. It'll be fascinating to see how it plays in London because even their more middle-of-the-roads are way more political than we are. I loved the townships because you look out and realise you have little in common with those people, but that makes for a great gig. If you're used to Edinburgh this is for you because it's the pick of the best comics in one place. You wouldn't get this in England. It should be a giant comedy exchange programme.
