Lotsa Lottering, lotsa laughs for Marc

One of South Africa's best known comedians is on his way to perform in Dubai. He spoke to tabloid! about growing up on the Cape Flats, stumbling upon fame and an unlikely dream featuring madonna.

Be thankful comedian Marc Lottering has a successful career making people laugh. If his back-up career had been necessary, Madonna may not be the superstar we all know and love today.

"It was my dream to be a backing vocalist for the material girl," deadpans Lottering. "I think I would have looked really good in those outfits and it would have been great to hang out with Madge and Guy."

Performing in Dubai next Sunday for a one-off show, the South African comedian recalls how he discovered his life's true calling on his 30th birthday.

Beginnings

"I was asked politely whether I would consider leaving university," he says.

"I mean, I thought I was doing okay but clearly I was wrong. So I left, had a few jobs, including an usher at a popular Cape Town theatre, and eventually became a marketing manager for an advertising agency."

But his 30th birthday celebrations in 1997 brought a new twist to his career prospects, thanks to a stand-up routine he performed to a group of friends who had gathered at a coffee shop to help mark the milestone.

"I couldn't invite my family because most of my jokes were about them," said Lottering. "I did impressions, wrote short songs and made fun of my childhood, growing up on the Cape Flats."

The coffee shop manager was impressed with Lottering's birthday routine and offered him a regular gig.

His routine amusingly called After the Beep, was performed to critical acclaim around the region and Lottering finally found his feet.

With his trademark afro hairstyle it wasn't long before Lottering was drawn to the big screen with television appearances including It's a Funny Country, Evita Live and Dangerous, Big Okes and People of the South.

"My hair has become a real trademark and I think that's great. I think people underestimate the power of hair. When I walk into a room people stop and stare and I am an expert on leave-in-conditioners."

The big time

In 2001 he made his international debut when he performed alongside comedian Pieter-Dirk Uys, jazz star Hugh Masekela and Zulu diva Sibongile Khumalo as part of the Celebrate South Africa Concert in London.

Later that year David Kramer directed Lottering's hit show From the Cape Flats With Love, which earned the duo six prestigious Cape Vita nominations and a Vita Award for Best Actor in a Comedy.

Lottering's next offering, Big Stakes and Slap Chips, also directed by David Kramer, opened at the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town, in November 2001, enjoying sell-out seasons in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

It was a serendipitous moment for Lottering as The Baxter Theatre was the place he had previously worked as an usher, selling sweets to theatregoers.

"Sometimes I look down and see the ushers and smile. I used to wear a badge which said 'Usher — How May I Help You?' It was before Usher was famous so it wasn't that they thought I was famous — instead I didn't really have a name to these people.

"Now the ushers have name badges, which really upsets me, well not really. I often stand next to one before I perform and wonder whether they would believe I used to do what they are doing."

Now considered by many to be one of the hottest comics to come out of South Africa, Lottering's humour is easily exported abroad.

In September 2002, he embarked on a sell-out international tour, entertaining homesick South Africans in London, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

And in 2004 he was nominated for a Fleur Du Cap Theatre Award for his performance in Crash, a hit show in which the he detailed his sobering experiences after he was arrested on a much-publicised drink driving charge.

"This was a tough time but I decided to do some good and use my fame as a way of setting a good example in the future. It was one of the worst moments of my life."

Stardom

And speaking of worst moments, Lottering recalls his most memorable memory from the stage.

Speaking very quietly he said: "It has to be when an audience sat through my entire performance with programmes for Aladdin, the pantomime in front of them.

"Too polite to say anything, the corporate audience sat through the show with the strangest looks on their faces and hardly laughed throughout the set.

"It was only afterwards we worked out the group had been sold the wrong tickets by the box office and were actually hoping to be shouting 'he's behind you' and 'oh no he's not' at the stage.

"I seriously thought I'd lost it."

So has fame gone to his curly head?

"Not at all. I always make a point of speaking to the ushers at the theatre — that used to be me, I often think. Sure, currently it feels okay to be me but as my mum always reminds me 'there's one born every minute'."

When and where

For more information call 050-8567927.