Conrad Koch

Conrad Koch is one of South Africa’s most in demand comedy talents. He combines hilarious comedy with world-class puppetry, and has won numerous awards, including Entertainer of the Year award, a Standard Bank Ovation Award from the National Arts Festival, The Times Comic’s Pen Award, has been nominated for the Comic’s Choice Comedian of the Year and is a double International EMMY nominated comedian.

He has worked all over the world, been featured on local and international television andis a frequent guest at some of South Africa’s biggest comedy events.

His most famous character, the puppet political analyst, Mr. Chester Missing, is a highlight on news channel eNCA, and was recently described as the star of the ANC’s Nasrec conference. The first puppet in history to win a court case, Chester has even written a book, and was named one of New African Magazine’s Most Influential Africans.

Conrad’s hit one-man shows have received standing ovations around South Africa and globally. He has performed at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He toured Canada during 2018, receiving 5 star reviews at the Winnipeg International Fringe Festival from both the Winnipeg Free Press and the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, selling out almost his entire run. The CBC said “my face hurt from laughing so hard”, describing Conrad’s work as “absolutely delightful and technically brilliant”, “Koch throws away more laugh lines than many shows have in the first place”.

Conrad has studied psychology, and is a social anthropologist – he has a master’s degree in the subject from WITS University (Cum Laude), focusing on corporate and African culture. He has had extensive experience implementing culture change programmes for the likes of FNB, Goldfields, Sun International, SAA, etc.

Conrad has audiences in stitches by talking to himself through a variety of extremelyeccentric characters. Self-ridicule has never been this fun. Meet Mr. Chester Missing,satirical political analyst, Hilton, an ostrich made from two feather dusters and a slipper, and DJ Hoodie, a puppet made from a hoodie who actually DJs, and a neuroticmosquito, called Mosquito. The show is highly interactive – audience members hilariously become the puppets.

TESTIMONIALS

“Intelligent, unhinged ventriloquism at its very best”

The Star

“Reviews will use descriptive words like ‘pioneering’, ‘master-class’, and ‘mini renaissance’ but it really is that outstanding”

The Citizen“

quite breathtaking: delightfully entertaining, intellectually stimulating and technically brilliant.”The Cape Times

“Brings the roof down”

The Independent, London

“Delicious…hilarious ventriloquised repartee”

The Argus

“Hilarious.”

Mail & Guardian