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DURBAN comedian Carvin Goldstone enjoys nothing more than making people laugh and he’ll be doing more of that during his upcoming national tour, “The Best of Carvin H Goldstone”, celebrating 10 years on the comedy stage.
Having just returned to his home turf after his second Australian Comedy Club Tour down under, Goldstone is ready again to draw the local crowds. He has often performed alongside the likes of Loyiso Gola, Stuart Taylor, Chester Missing and Jason Goliath.
He spoke to The Independent on Saturday this week about how he started out and what draws him to comedy.
“I saw an advert and entered the Madras Masala competition at Sibaya’s iZulu Theatre and that was the beginning,” he said.
And when it comes to his material, it’s all about what’s going on around him.
“My comedy is from experience, so it’s not as serious as sit down and write jokes. I experience or observe things and then tell them on stage.”
His shows have often been described as great entertainment for the whole family because he always keeps the humour clean, which came about because of where he was in life when he started out.
“I told jokes to my family, so I didn’t swear. So it was just a natural progression.”
Goldstone said the South African expats in Australia loved having some home humour. “The audience is so happy to have you that you forget you’re in another country.”
So, 10 years down the line, does he still get nervous when he walks out on to stage?
“I still do, although I have improved a lot. I used to be so nervous that I wouldn’t sleep for days before a big show. But I’m more sure of myself after 10 years,” he said.
He also admitted that it had been a big decision to switch from his career as a journalist to being a full-time comedian.
“Leaving a guaranteed income is a big step, especially if you’re leaving it to go fulltime into entertainment. More so if you’re doing it in Durban. But I love the pace of the city – there’s enough industry for it to be a working person’s city, but that doesn’t define it,” he said.
The coming tour will see shows taking place around South Africa and it is clear that for Goldstone it’s all about the art of creating comedy and sharing a laugh.
“I think it’s about making someone enjoy that moment. Watching people laugh and just enjoy life is the most enjoyable thing about being a stage comedian.”
And his advice for up-andcoming comedians is to “keep writing and never give up on your dream because you have a few bad gigs – chase the stage time, not the money.”
The Best of Carvin H Goldstone Tour begins at the Durban Jewish Club on July 14, then heads down to the Wild Coast Sun on July 15. Pretoria is next at Protea Hotel, Menlyn, on July 22, then Johannesburg Protea Hotel, Melrose Arch, on July 23.
The show is back in KZN at the Pietermaritzburg Golden Horse Casino on July 30. Then he goes to the Cape Town Comedy Club from August 3-7.
From there, Sibaya iZulu Theatre will host the show from August 19-21 before it moves to the Port Elizabeth Opera House on August 27 and Chatsworth’s Hotel Savera on August 28. The tour ends in Johannesburg on September 9 at the Goliath Comedy Club.
Tickets for the tour are available at www.quicket.co.za. KWAZULU-NATAL now has its own travel and adventure show, which aims to promote domestic tourism within the province. The KZN Travel and Adventure Show, hosted by Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, is on this weekend at the Durban Exhibition Centre, alongside the ECR House and Garden Show.
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) chief executive officer Ndabo Khoza, said; “With the influx of tourists enjoying our warm winter weather, we felt that July was the perfect time to provide a public platform for a wide range of travel options at affordable rates.”
“The show will be an opportunity for us to promote travel within the province and for the people of KZN to explore and discover new tourism products that they can visit on their next holiday.
“We will also be promoting some of our township routes such as INK, Claremont and uMlazi and visitors will be able to book a tour right there at the show.”
There will be daily promotions and activities and guest appearances by the Sharks rugby team. Prizes to the value of R5 million will be given away and three of the exhibitors, Thula Thula Private Game Reserve, Lythwood Lodge and Port Edward Holiday Resort, are giving prizes to Independent on Saturday readers.
To win one of them, SMS the tag word of your choice followed by your name and surname to 33258 by 9am on July 11. SMSes charged at R1.50, terms and conditions apply. Winners will be contacted by phone. THULA THULA Francoise Malby-Anthony, widow of elephant whisperer Lawrence Anthony, is ready to welcome four winners with a gourmet lunch and game drive at her Thula Thula Private Game lodge.
The charming French lodge owner is an accomplished chef, always experimenting with new creations in her kitchen. Build up your appetite during a game drive with experienced guides. The lodge is set in beautiful surroundings, inland of Richards Bay and accessible from Durban in a two-and-ahalf hour drive. To win this prize SMS TIOSThulathula.
PORT EDWARD HOLIDAY RESORT:
Port Edward Holiday Resort is giving away a twonight stay for six people, including a tour to the Beaver Creek Coffee Estate. The Resort is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the South Coast, 150km south of Durban – right on the shores of the Indian Ocean. The self-catering units, with braai facilities and breath-taking ocean views, open on to a pristine beach. The prize includes a 30 to 45 minute walking tour of the coffee estate to find out what goes into making that perfect cup of coffee. To win this prize SMS TIOSEdward. LYTHWOOD LODGE: Lythwood Lodge is offering a two night stay in a luxury room for two people, dinner, bed and breakfast, valued at R4 500.
The four-star hotel is situated in the foothills of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park on the Midlands Meander. Activities include hiking and fishing. To win SMS TIOSLythwood.