When happiness and laughter ran a Goliath tour in Sandton

The legitimately talented duo of cousins Jason and Nicholas Goliath debuted The Happiness Economy – their latest stand-up routine – at the Theatre on the Square in Sandton.

The brilliance executed at the first leg of The Happiness Comedy Tour on June 18, teased the show’s potential success in Sandton. Jason Goliath spoke about the pivotal role played by the Theatre on the Square for South African stage performers breaking into important spaces to enter into social visibility.

“The Theatre on the Square isn’t so much about Sandton, but so much about what’s happening with entertainment in South Africa,” Goliath said at the end of the show. “Most of the barriers we know are accessibility, safety, and familiarity. I love the space. Introducing people that are not from Sandton to this space is our ambition.”

Goliath reflected on how The Happiness Economy Comedy Tour had been on the cards between himself and Nicholas since 2020. He described the show as the first one where it wasn’t so much about putting the show together, but just having the guts to call it what it is – without pandering to the audience members’ laughs.

“What happens in stand-up comedian messaging is that you promise people that they will laugh, so you want people to laugh – which makes the silences awkward, heavy, and uncomfortable. This often makes the comedian just revert back to old jokes.”

Hosting a fully mixed audience in terms of age and demographic, the comedians presented Sandton with an opportunity to laugh at humorous, conversational comedy.

The duo, known as Goliath and Goliath used their platform as stand-up comedians to discourse an array of topics – knowing when to strategically get away with taking sick-leave, and how sparkling water comes out when toilets are flushed in Sandton.

The combination of deep, thought-provoking messaging – and light-hearted, jovial banter – was a highlight to experiencing the synergy between the two relatives on stage together.

By the end of the show, audiences understood The Happiness Economy to carry three fundamental elements comprising the formula of happiness: gratitude, acceptance, and perspective/perception (GAP). Goliath and Goliath found the gap in Sandton when The Happiness Economy Comedy Tour ran from June 18– 22, and they filled it with happiness.

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