The arts always provide us with moments to talk about and love.
We relish moments in cinema, music or dissecting themes explored on stage, in books or getting lost in the rhythmic wizardry of dance.
The arts have grown and progressed with the years and there are often differences.
We are experiencing this in the world of film with veteran actors at times lamenting the modern ways in which films are created these days with an actor alone on a set interacting with animatronics or a green screen.
The age-old feud between old and young was put on full display for the world when American comedian Katt Williams hopped on a podcast and began to insinuate and allege a host of things against his peers including plagiarism and deviance.
“Everyone experiences this industry differently. I love Katt Williams. I had to buy a second DVD of his special Pimp Chronicles because I had watched the first one so many times. I think there’s a lot of truth in it and then I think it’s just Katt being Katt.”
These are the words of local comic Robby Collins. He is at first diplomatic about a few of the issues raised in that scorcher of an interaction on the podcast Club Shay Shay but even he concedes to some of the observations expressed by Katt Williams especially as it pertains to what people aim to get from becoming a comedian.
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“We all have different dreams. Some only want to do stand up, others are better with the pen, and others are born actors. Then there are a few who can do it all and there are the ones who just want to be famous and say yes to it all.”
We reached out to the astute performer ahead of the The Savanna Newcomer Showcase which he will be hosting.
Robby is an established name on the local comedy scene and so he is well positioned to aid in the ushering in of a new generation.
The idea is for this platform to shine a light on new talents in local comedy. This art form has always had the ability to pull a crowd close, but it is oddly not one of the more supported creative practices.
“I’m excited to be hosting this year’s show. I’ve attended the showcase in the past and there are always surprises. There’s always someone you don’t know that catches your attention,” Robby says.
He is seasoned enough to be fully cognisant of the challenges facing the comedic industry and he believes most of their challenges either extend from or were exacerbated by the pandemic.
“I think Covid hurt us when it comes to established comedy clubs. They don’t exist anymore. A lot of comics have had to create their own spaces.
“But at the same time, more doors have opened for comics because they have had to make their own way. The only problem with that is the standard can drop in some environments because a young comic might not be around any seasoned comics who can help them with their growth.”
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These are not the only perils faced by local comedy, “I think just the average respect from the public. People would still much rather spend money on entrance to a nightclub than come to watch a comedy show.”
Robby is of the impression that comedy should be an everyday thing especially in a world that is desperate for joy. This is why he is taking the role of hosting this showcase as seriously as he is, and he also claims to be a fan of a couple of the newcomers after glancing at the line up again.
“I like a lot of them, but Mick Pillay and Thula Sithole definitely stand up. They are not only funny, but they are very original and well opinionated for such a youthful age,” he praises.
The selection of talents this year stretches beyond the confines of our country with the inclusion of Céline Tshika, a 29-year-old born in Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo and grew up in Johannesburg and is now based in Cape Town.
“I tried comedy for the first time in 2021, but I've been consistently doing comedy since February 2023. I wasn't ready to commit to it in 2021 since I was working on some projects, but last year it officially took over my evenings,” she says. Céline is a quirky storyteller comedian, generally making self-deprecating social commentary jokes about immigrant identity, sexuality and being an awkward black girl.
“I'm inspired by how your upbringing shapes your adult life and how fun and messy it can be untangling all that. I'm also an actor who can't resist imitation and accents, and everyday people give me endless inspiration.”She expresses her gratitude with the being included in this showcase, “Savanna has always been the 'fun' brand that's sponsored a lot of local comedy, so it's an honour to be a part of this showcase. There are so many strong newcomers, some of whom I've had the pleasure of putting in the hours with, and I'm excited to take this next step with them.
“I'm hoping it will allow me to meet comedians I look up to and can learn from and I'm hoping it will give me exposure to people in the comedy world so I can perform more events.”Comedy is currently a passive pass time for the actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker.
“I take on freelance video editing and social media work to keep me going between jobs. Thankfully, almost everything I do is in the comedy world, so it doesn't feel so separated from my stand-up life.
Naturally, this year will be filled with Robby doing what he loves and is best at.
“[Expect] a lot of stand up. Tour dates will be announced very soon. Oh, and a very exciting new TV show on Amazon Prime Video starting next month,” he reveals excitedly.
The conversation winds down with the funny man imparting a few words of advice to anyone pondering a path in the world of humour.
“Study every bit of stand up you can get your hands on. Watch the specials at home and catch the live shows. Especially the live shows - that’s where you experience the magic.”
The Savanna Newcomer Showcase takes place on Sunday, 21 January 2024 at the Theatre on the Square, Sandton.
