The Sunday Mail
AWARD-WINNING comedian, Carl Joshua Ncube, will not let health issues stand in his way as he attempts to set a new world record for the highest number of standup comedy shows held in seven days. Ncube last week announced that from August 17 to 23, 2016 he will attempt to stage 35 shows, five more than the current Guinness World Record of 30 shows set by Australia’s Mark Murphy in 2007. However, the process to attaining this is no walk in the park as it is very demanding mentally and physically.
It is in the latter area where Carl needs to work on most as he was once hospitalised in December 2013 when he suffered some diabetic complications.
“My health of great concern, which is why my wife is doing everything to make sure I am working out daily, jogging and working on my cardio as well as things I need to do to protect my voice in that time. This is a grueling attempt and I am scared daily about the impact it will have on my body and my health,” said Carl.
Asked why he decided to set a new record Carl said, “I believe that Zimbabwe is part of the global community so sometimes we must show that we can contribute to what is happening globally. This record is important as it puts a global focus on Zimbabwe, not for its politics but to induce a feeling of excitement about us as a people – the same excitement when say Kirsty Coventry wins a gold medal at the Olympics, everyone is happy for her.
“This will be a record that shows what Zimbabweans can do when they work together. I hope this proves that we are not our circumstances. Things are almost impossible in Zimbabwe right now but as long as people look out for each other we can make it out of this.”
There are a number of stringent rules that the comedian must follow to the dot in order to avoid being disqualified and these include; each concert must be given before a paying audience (in receipt of printed tickets), tickets must be advertised and available for sale to the general public, each gig should last at least 30 minutes from start to finish, and performers should be paid.
However, there is one tricky rule. It states that the venue used is supposed to be one that usually hosts comedy shows. Seeing that Zimbabwe has very few known venues like that, how does Carl intend to overcome this challenge? “You will be surprised how many venues over the five years in Zimbabwe have hosted standup comedy nights, how many tours I have done and shows introducing comedy to non-comedy venues. We have also partnered with comedy venues in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana,” said Carl.
Carl also took time to explain why his much hyped Harare Comedy Club, which was to be based at the Rainbow Towers never took off.
“Unfortunately our principal partners pulled out of the agreement citing that my comedy content might be in conflict with their brand, so unfortunately we could not continue with the project. But I chose not to let this discourage me and it has made me even stronger and determined to keep moving forward. “My other project, Build the Dome is still continuing, everything I am doing will eventually culminate in a state-of-the-art comedy venue being built in my own country,” revealed Carl.
