Night of a thousand laughs at Bulawayo Theatre

Butshilo Nleya, director and founder of Bulawayo Culture Festival, and comedians Clive Chigubu, Ntando van Moyo and renowned master of ceremonies Babongile Sikhonjwa will be hoping the ducks line up in a row come December 6 and 7 at the Bulawayo Theatre at their comedy event entitled The Bulawayo Night of A Thousand Laughs.Whether their hustle is going to pay is another thing altogether.
“There is a big audience out there,” quips Nleya the comedy show’s organiser.
But how did you establish this, the show might bomb? “What do you mean bomb?” Flop. “It won’t flop.” Get rich or die trying? “Always. In Jesus’ name, it won’t flop.”
How did the idea come about? “The show came out of the call from various comedy lovers asking for a show to see Clive and the Bulawayo artists. The Bulawayo Culture Festival will have a night of a thousand laughs next year and this is the prelude. We have great support from British Council, Austria-based Mkhaya Productions, KoMaseko Arts and Ceramics who believe in this initiative and others who purport to develop the arts in Bulawayo.”

According to the organiser’s hype: “The show is part of a bigger strategy to consistently give audiences quality alternative urban and contemporary culture and arts experiences. The Bulawayo Night of a Thousand Laughs will feature budding comedians who will get an opportunity to prove their mettle to audiences and the top three comedy geniuses will conclude the evening in their signature styles.”
As regards audiences, Ntando van Moyo is a savvy artist with a long-term view of his business. He can rely on his loyal legion of followers who attend the Umahlekisa Comedy Club which he started in May this year at Jimmy’s Restaurant every Friday night. Because of the growing numbers, he switched next door to Flame Diner along Robert Mugabe Avenue. “They are steadily growing toward 150 and I keep in touch with them via social media,” said the comic in an interview. Bulawayo Theatre carries about three hundred people.

On the other hand cherub faced Clive Chigubu is really gifted. Babongile Sikhonjwa is witty but I don’t know that he can go the full distance as I have mostly heard him compere at weddings and numerous other events in the city. Whatever the case will be, hopefully the material the comics present on the two nighter turns out to be fresh and off the hinges, to use street parlance. No one likes tired jokes. We are rooting for them and the smart money is on this Bulawayo crew.