Durban - Durbanites love their stand-up comedy. So with the refurbishment of Lucky’s Bar and Cafe at 507 Lilian Ngoyi (Windermere) Road, owners Colin Balliram and Debora Pillay decided to do more than a few tweaks to their menu.
They have launched Thursday Comedy Club gigs, where they hope to serve some of the finest in stand-up comedy acts.
Balliram said: “Durban comedian Carvin Goldstone has been a frequent patron and it made sense that we should combine our efforts in a bid to deliver a weekly dose of the best medicine – laughter.
“We feel adding a Comedy Club would fit right in with the culture we want to achieve, which is an entertainment hotspot for everyone. Lucky’s is cosy and loungy with a great ambience. Comedy would be at home here,” added Balliram.
Goldstone said: “Durban is ready for dedicated comedy spaces. At the moment all our gigs are pop-up gigs or monthlies. Thursday Comedy Club will give visiting and local acts a regular space to test new ideas and work jokes.”
Already booked for next month are Dana Alexander from Canada and Justin Rivera from America’s Got Talent. Local favourites include Neil Green, Arnotte Payne and East Coast Radio’s Rory Petzer.
“So it’s going to be a huge surprise every week to see who is taking the stage at Thursday Comedy Club.”
Goldstone added: “Windermere Road is also a great location. The New York Bar, which hosted a comedy night which I performed at regularly, was down the road.
“It closed this year, so we saw an opportunity to do something that kept comedy alive in the area.”
The launch line-up features Tyson Heffer headlined by Goldstone. Andrew Hughes will host the show.
Heffer is known for his one-liner observational style of comedy. He has performed alongside some of the best acts in South Africa.
Goldstone has been doing comedy for 11 years and is becoming one
of the country’s most sought-after entertainers.
What sets him apart is his clean, no-swearing style. This year he had successful tours to Australia and New Zealand.
Hughes is a proudly Durban comedian born in Ixopo. He has been doing comedy for a year and has shared the stage with heavyweights like Joey Rasdien. He shares his comic experiences through storytelling.
Thursday Comedy Club launches on October 26 at 8pm. Entry is R50 at the door. Seats are limited and booking is essential: call Veru on 081 488 3770 or Titus at 073 037 2559.