Savanna and the folks behind the SA Comic’s Choice Awards are gearing up for another spectacular event as the award show celebrates it’s 7th year this year. However, for the first time, the pinnacle comedy awards event in South Africa will expand to include all African countries – a first for the industry.
The awards celebrate the power that humour has to break down barriers and open borders between African countries and encourage the free flow of comedy talent which is why this year’s theme is aptly titled ‘The Freedom Of Funny’. This freedom is the cornerstone of comedians’ ability to make people laugh – and to make a living. This is the freedom they have (and need) to create, to express and to poke fun at the serious and often silly side of everyday life.
“This theme was chosen after the success of last year’s theme – ‘For The Love Of Laughter’. We saw a really good reception by the South African public to a more accessible, upbeat theme. Not to say we won’t take a darker turn down the road again, but for now, while the country navigates a tough period – we felt it would be great to celebrate positive aspects of comedy again,” says John Vlismas, Savanna CCA co-founder.
With its expansion into Africa, the style of the Savanna CCA’s this year will be contemporary and premium African design work, the inclusion of all previous winners in a collage that resonates unity and the strong image of a young comic hoisting Waldo aloft in a gesture redolent of Madiba – the Savanna CCA’s will use the 2017 campaign to celebrate the coming together of a family of Comedy Artists across Africa. This year with a new director, script, cast and venue, the Awards will again be an exceptional and highly entertaining event.
This year, the awards expand their category list to 11:
· The Savanna Newcomer Comic Award.
· The Intermediate Comic Award.
· The Comics’ Pen Award.
· The Lifetime Achiever Award.
· The Flying Solo Comic Award.
· The Non-English Comic Award.
· The Nando’s Best Friend of Comedy Award.
· The Breakthrough Award.
· The Savanna Pan-African Comic Award. This award will go to the comic on the continent (excluding South Africa) who has contributed the most to the African comedy industry, as voted for by his or her fellow African and South African comedians.
· The Audience Choice Award (the only category in which the public can vote).
· The Savanna Comic of the Year.
The awards will take place on the 9th of September at The Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City and is expected to be a hilarious celebration of comedy in South Africa.
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