Rhodes University drama alumnus Rob van Vuuren is returning to Grahamstown this Festival for a rendition of Rob van Vuuren-Live!, the comedian’s latest award-winning stand-up comedy show.
Having been recently identified by the Mail & Guardian as one of the 200 young South Africans you should take out to lunch, Van Vuuren has made waves in South African comedy theatre since graduating from Rhodes University in 1997 with an honours degree in Drama.
As an actor Van Vuuren has enjoyed success on stage and screen, being nominated for Vita Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Al in Joshua Lindberg’s production of Birdy, as well as a Fleur De Cap Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of Ray Dooley in Janice Honeyman’s production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane.
Described by critics as “comic genius”, “dynamic and a winning storyteller” and “hilarious and touching”, Live! looks set to live up to Van Vuuren’s stellar Festival record. Following the runaway success of the premiere of the production at the 2011 National Arts Festival the show walked away with the coveted Standard Bank Ovation Award for Comedy. In 2011 Van Vuuren was awarded the Breakthough Act Award at the inaugural Comics Choice Awards.
Van Vuuren said the show promises an irreverent, honest and sidesplittingly funny perspective on many of Van Vuuren’s favorite subjects which range from dogs, flies, and Jehovah’s Witnesses to becoming a dad, adoption and giant mutant toenails.