The Savanna Comic`s Choice Awards has just announced that the 2016 Lifetime Achiever recipient is South African comedy icon Casper De Vries.
Amid great hooting and cheering, the diminutive funnyman was on hand for the announcement.
Through groundbreaking use of multimedia and mastery of the sketch-show discipline, De Vries has built a massive and loyal fan base, and his revolutionary use of SMS-based marketing has allowed him to fill venues across South Africa and in several countries around the world, including the legendary London Palladium.
Straddling the fence between slapstick and deeply challenging dark comedy, De Vries has entertained across generations and cultural divides. His career has spanned several decades, and stage, television, radio and film. He is a performer, writer, painter and composer – with several one-man shows, seasons of smash hit TV series, cabarets, exhibitions and films under his belt.
“The first time I saw Casper perform, I wasn`t sure exactly what he was saying, but I knew I was watching something brilliant,” says fellow comedian John Vlismas. “Casper has inspired many, many new comics, and his bravery and refusal to compromise his beliefs make him a very worthy Lifetime Achiever.”
De Vries will be honoured at a very special event, “The Grilling of Lifetime”, at Parkers, Montecasino, on 27 July.
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