Press Release: Rob van Vuuren’s hilarious WhatWhat for holiday season

Popular comedian and talented actor Rob van Vuuren brings Cape Town the chance to catch his award-winning comedy WhatWhat for the holiday season. It will be performed at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio from 1 December until 10 January 2014.

From his side-splitting role as Twakkie in The Most Amazing Show, to touring on stage internationally in the acclaimed The Three Little Pigs; and from his multiple awards, to becoming a household name after pranking Leon Schuster, van Vuuren has confirmed his place as one of the country’s most loved performers.

Winner of a 2013 Standard Bank Silver Ovation award, WhatWhat is written and performed by van Vuuren, directed by multi award winning Tara Notcutt (The Three Little Pigs; …miskien), with a score by Gary Thomas, and produced by Siv Ngesi.

What What is a high energy, hilarious and epic celebration of a hidden gem in the South African lexicon. Van Vuuren manages to tie love, life, death, koala bears, adoption, firepools, gay slang, dancing and so much more into the linguistic stranglehold that is WhatWhat.

“This is the first chance Cape Town has to catch Rob’s latest solo show and what better time to enjoy some deep-belly laughs than during the holiday season,” says producer Siv Ngesi. “It’s going to be a blast so don’t miss out!”

“I was fascinated by how the phrase 'WhatWhat' can be used to mean practically anything, from the indescribable to the unknowable to everything in between. So I tackled the really big and infinitely strange topics like love, life, death and Australians,” says van Vuuren.

Van Vuuren needs no introduction to audiences due to his numerous television (SA’s Got Talent; Strictly Come Dancing; Crazy Games) and film appearances (Leon Schuster’s Schucks Tshabalala and Shucks Your Country Needs You; Spud 2; Footskating 101; Copposittes; Mandela Long Walk To Freedom).

His extensive stage work reflects his depth, range and success as an entertainer and his credits include the darkly comical hit physical theatre shows Mung, Tangkupa, Capgun, Electric Juju, Bangalore Torpedo, Brother Number and most recently The Three Little Pigs (with James Cairns, Albert Pretorius and Tara Notcutt). Nationally, The Three Little Pigs won the Best Production Award Winner at Woordfees, and Best Actor and Best Play Nominations at Aardklop and The Fleur Du Caps. Internationally, it toured to Perth (where it won the Artrage Theatre Award) , Amsterdam (Silver Award for Best International Production and Edinburgh (where it raked in a slew of 5 star reviews) and it was invited to the New York Fringe Festival.

Van Vuuren won the 2011 Comics Choice Breakthrough Act Award and has won Standard Bank Ovation Awards for his various productions every year for the past four years.

Tara Notcutt is a seasoned and internationally acclaimed director and producer, and artistic director of The Pink Couch. The many productions she has worked on have toured around South Africa and abroad with much success. . ..miskien and The Three Little Pigs have both been performed in Perth and Amsterdam and been invited to New York. Tara’s numerous credits include Mafeking Road; Last Rounds; WhatWhat; Ilusive; Thom Pain (based on nothing); Waiting for This God Ou and A Town Called Fokol Lutho. At the tender age of 27, she has already received more than twenty awards and nominations.

Join van Vuuren on his entertaining ride into the realm of the WhatWhat.

What What runs at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio Monday to Saturdays from 1 December to 10 January 2015 at 8.15pm (except New Year’s Eve when it starts at 10.15pm). Age advisory PG13.

Tickets to the previews on 1, 2 and 3 December cost R110. Tickets cost R130 Monday to Thursday and R150 on Friday and Saturdays. There is a 20% discount for students and senior citizens and ten per cent for bookings of ten or more (except New Year’s Eve).

Tickets to New Year’s Eve on 31 December cost R215 and include the show, a complimentary glass of bubbly or orange juice; a spectacular balloon drop and a live band with a party that starts after the shows. Enjoy an early bird discount – book before 1 December and pay only R205.

Bookings can be made at Computicket 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet.

For discounted corporate, schools or block-bookings, charities or fundraisers, contact Sharon on 021 680 3962, email sharon.ward@uct.ac.za or Carmen on 021 680 3993, email carmen.kearns@uct.ac.za.

Press comments about Rob van Vuuren

‘Comic genius’ – Mail and Guardian

‘Thoroughly enjoyable…just the thing if you’re looking to sit back and have a good laugh.’ Cue Online

‘Screamingly Funny’ Artsblog

‘…engaging and very, very funny. ..a dynamic and winning storyteller. ..hilarious and touching… improvisational genius…warm, real, engaging and hysterically funny.’

Natal Witness

‘A natural funnyman…remarkable comic timing.’ Cape Times

‘If comedy had a god, Van Vuuren would be it’ Cue

Press release provided by Christine Skinner. Photo by Danielle Bischoff.