Parker’s Comedy and Jive is without doubt the premier venue for South African comedy, and owners Joe Parker and Alexi Stylianides are looking towards a brighter future.
From Loyiso Gola to David Kibuuka, Parker’s Comedy and Jive has honed and hosted a plethora of comedic talent in South Africa; since 2008 it can be attributed to have led to the exponentially growing popularity of South African comedy.
“There are loads of young comedians who have nowhere to perform. So what we’ve provided is a platform for comedians, while giving the public a venue where they can watch a great show,” said legendary funnyman Joe Parker. The club not only acts as a venue where people can perform, but also as a place to learn and raise the standard of comedy in South Africa.
“The only places people could watch a comedy show were either at small pubs or big festivals,” Parker said.
This led him to start the club as a venue where comedy could be regularly performed, allowing him to take comedy from “a niche market and into the mainstream”.
With their involvement with Comedy Central through regular broadcasts of shows at the club, they have truly shone in the public eye. At the beginning of this year, Stylianides came forward as the new partner for Parker’s comedy and Jive, with the plan of adding a new dynamic to the club.
“I stepped in to improve and raise the standard in catering, so that the club is not only for comedy, but also a destination where people can come to and eat and enjoy a show,” explained Stylianides.
Thanks to regular revamps and additions, Parker’s Comedy and Jive is looking to a brighter future and will only be moving up from here, with a new club opening in Gold Reef City.
