Schalk Bezuidenhout: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019
Who? Schalk Bezuidenhout
What? South African White Boy
Where? Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Three (Venue 33)
When? 21:30
What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?
I’m beyond excited! I’ve always loved visiting the festival and I am looking forward to being there this year for the entire month, performing every night! I have done runs of the show now all over the place and it’s a show I am very proud of. I am excited to share this material with people. We also don’t have Urban Outfitters in South Africa and Topshop here recently closed down, so there’s also that.
What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?
No one knows me in Edinburgh, so the premise of the show is to introduce myself to audiences, to tell them a little bit more about where I come from and to poke fun at us and them. And as in every comedy show the premise is to make people laugh. And I am pretty certain the show does that.
What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?
I think the biggest challenge so far has been putting together an hour that can talk about me and South Africa, but that is still relevant and relatable to someone who is not from South Africa. It’s easy to make someone laugh in your own country. You can fall back on ‘inside jokes’ in a way. The hard part comes in when you need to make people laugh that are not from where you come from or maybe even have no idea that where you come from even exists. You, reading this right now, maybe even thought that South Africa refers to the Southern part of Africa. Surprise! It’s a country!
Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?
I have only been there once. This will be my second year. My impression of the Fringe is that it is a great festival, which offers amazing opportunities for all levels of comedians from all over the world. But when I wake up after a long night of partying with the other comedians my attitude towards the festival is slightly different to when it is when I don’t have a massive headache.
Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?
I stumbled across Josh Glanc and Eli Matthewson. Those are the best kind of shows. The ones where you just think the poster looks interesting or someone recommends it to you and you walk in not knowing what to expect. The guy who was flyering Josh Glanc’s show just said to us: “At some point he licks a dead fish.” And I thought: I have to see this show. Who doesn’t want to see someone licking a dead fish?!
Where would you like to be in a year’s time?
Well, in a year’s time I hope to be answering these same questions again regarding my second international one man show at the Edinburgh Fringe. I’d also, by then, like to be able to grow a full beard.
GET YOUR TICKETS FOR: SCHALK BEZUIDENHOUT:‘SOUTH AFRICAN WHITE BOY’ HERE