 Puppetry of the Penis
 AUS
For over a decade the Cape Town International Comedy Festival has put the Mother
City on the world entertainment map with Africa’s largest and funniest comedy festival. This year the
Comedy Festival’s Danger Zone will make sure you never look at male genitalia in the same way again,
when it presents the global comedy phenomena Puppetry of the Penis.
Despite its provocative title, there is neither anything rude nor lewd about
the show, however it is – by necessity – performed in the nude! The ingenuity, resourcefulness and
dexterity of the show’s creators, Simon Morley and David "Friendy" Friend has had audiences gasping
from laugher since its extraordinarily successful debut at the 1998 Melbourne International Comedy
Festival. The runaway hit of the festival, it ended up touring Australia for eight-months. The show
was then unleashed at the 2000 Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. It was there that West End
producer David Johnson realized Puppetry of the Penis' potential, after the woman sitting next to
him wet her pants laughing. Contracts and mops were brought out, and a deal was made on the spot.
Since its West End debut in 2001, Puppetry of Penis' popularity ensures it sells
out venues around the globe. South Africans will join legions of PoP fans that include celebrities
Naomi Campbell, Elton John, Bono, Mel’s B and C, and Hugh Grant, whose member has also enjoyed the
spotlight for illicit puppetry of its own!
This time around the show will be hosted by popular international comedienne,
Ninia Benjamin, one of the BBC’s irrepressible 3 Non-Blondes. |
Ninia Benjamin
 UK
“The Comedy Assassin”
The Voice
Dubbed “The Comedy Assassin” by the British media, Ninia Benjamin is well-known
to many South Africans as one of the hilarious 3 Non-Blondes on BBC Prime.
As one of the UK’s hottest female comedians with a wealth of television,
stage and live stand-up experience, Ninia is also a highly popular celebrity guest and TV
commentator for many popular discussion shows, such as Sky Comedy Close Up.
Her effervescent screen presence and quick wit have also made her a favourite
of reality TV shows including Cirque De Celebrity on Sky One and Celebrity Scissorhands on BBC3.
Ninia was recently crowned winner of the latter programme in which she and a host of
celebrities cut and styled their way through two weeks in a televised salon, raising
thousands of pounds for Children in Need. She is due to appear on TV again shortly in
Celebrity Masterchef.
After Ninia was catapulted to stardom in 3 Non-Blondes, her talents have been
showcased across all the major UK channels in a variety of roles, as a presenter (Gory Greek Gods,
BBC3), studio guest (Big Brother’s Big Mouth, Channel 4), and actress (Twisted Tales,
BBC3).
While Ninia’s popularity on television continues to soar, her stand-up remains at the highest
level. She is a regular headliner at all the top venues across the UK including the prestigious
Jongleurs, Up the Creek, The Banana Cabaret, Glee Clubs and Bound & Gagged. |
