Sunday Times

Comic’s failure to pay bills not funny, says lighting company

- By PHILANI NOMBEMBE

● Kurt Schoonraad’s ability to make people laugh has earned him internatio­nal acclaim. But businessma­n Jean-Pierre Willson failed to see the funny side when the comedian didn’t pay for lighting equipment.

Willson hauled Schoonraad to the sombre stage of Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, which has ordered the stand-up comic’s company to pay Willson more than R35 000 plus costs.

Schoonraad’s Jou Ma Se Comedy Club, at the V&A Waterfront, bought the secondhand equipment from Willson’s Unfazed Production­s in 2013, according to court papers.

The companies agreed Unfazed would maintain the equipment and train club staff between January and November 2014 for R10 000 a month. But the club fell into arrears, and Willson said he felt insulted when Schoonraad told him at an event they attended: “I’m not paying, speak to my lawyer.”

Willson took the legal route after a series of e-mails, seen by the Sunday Times, failed to produce a happy ending.

In July 2014, Schoonraad blamed the winter season, compounded by the Ramadan fast, for his failure to pay.

“I am honestly unable to contribute at the moment,” he wrote. “It’s not all doom and gloom tho. We are getting some good corporate bookings from September on. With any luck, I’ll be able to pay significan­tly to the arrears amount.

“I’d love to chat about servicing of the lights as soon as possible. Please hang in there a little longer. If I had it I would settle it immediatel­y.”

This week, Willson’s lawyer, Barry Varkel, said Schoonraad’s company had yet to pay. “My client has a court order against Schoonraad which remains completely unpaid,” he said.

“Schoonraad is using lighting equipment which does not belong to him, for free. He has stage lights that are not his shining down on comedy performers.

“Imagine if Schoonraad did a paid comedy gig and never got paid for his performanc­e? I’m sure he wouldn’t find that one bit funny. Well, neither does my client.”

Schoonraad’s publicist, Ian Bredenkamp, told the Sunday Times: “The accusation levelled against Mr Schoonraad by the lighting supplier is false. This matter is being managed by Mr Schoonraad’s legal representa­tives.”

According to Schoonraad’s website, “with his earthy humour and comedic range he connects with audiences from every corner of South Africa, not to mention internatio­nally, even making the front page of the New York Times”.

The Mitchells Plain comedian’s career spans two decades, and the website describes his club as “Cape Town’s only dedicated internatio­nal stand-up comedy venue . . . The club was recently acknowledg­ed as one of the 10 best comedy clubs in the world.”

 ?? Picture: Hetty Zantman ?? Kurt Schoonraad owns a comedy club at the V&A Waterfront.
Picture: Hetty Zantman Kurt Schoonraad owns a comedy club at the V&A Waterfront.

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