A comic surprise at Reps Theatre

01 Oct, 2017 - 00:10 0 Views
A comic surprise  at Reps Theatre

The Sunday Mail

ALFRED Kainga’s recent show at Reps Theatre in Harare was proof of the exponential growth of Zimbabwean comedy.

While just Q Dube and Long John were advertised as supporting acts, the crowd was in for a surprise as another young, unheralded comic was invited to warm the stage.

University of Zimbabwe student Tinaye Wayne Chiketa did not squander the opportunity to showcase his talent. He stitched together a solid set with wonderful twists and turns, brilliantly bobbing and weaving his way to rib cracking punch lines.

The comic might have been tasked with warming up the stage but he ended up burning it, putting pressure on the veterans who had to pull up their socks.

Although other comedians including the headline act did not disappoint, one could easily argue that the night belonged to Tinaye.

The Sunday Mail Leisure caught up with Tinaye last week and he shared the story of his journey.

Born in Harare in 1994, Tinaye grew up in the high density suburb of Sunningdale, which is where he attended primary school, and it was in this period that he discovered his funny bone.

“I have always been a funny character ever since I was a kid and in primary school my teachers labelled me a clown because I always joked around and did funny stuff in class,” said Tinaye.

After attending Gutu High School, he enrolled at the University of Zimbabwe where he is studying for a degree in Business Studies.

With his popularity set to continue growing as he has already started getting slots at big events like Shoko Festival and Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe, one would never think he had a rather rocky start.

“The first time I tried stand-up comedy was in 2014 at the Book Café but it was a disaster as I failed to make a single person laugh, which made me think that comedy was not meant for me and I quit.

“After realising that I really wanted to be a comedian, I decided to research about the industry, learning the dynamics and all the elements that were necessary to be a successful comedian. After practising on my own, I decided to hit the stage again in 2015 and this time around I managed to get the crowd responding to my jokes.”

He said his gags are inspired by his life experiences and the things that affect society as a whole, which makes it easy for the audience to relate to some of the issues he tackles.

Tinaye has been performing at various venues around the capital, sharing the stage with other top acts and his stock continues to rise with every set. While Alfred Kainga’s show was the biggest stage of his career, he believes that bigger things are coming in the near future.

“I just want to continue working hard so as to prefect my craft because I believe I have what it takes to scale greater heights in the entertainment industry.”

The future surely looks bright for the comedian and if he can keep the momentum going in the long run, he might just realise his dreams.

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