What’s On?

AT THE MOVIES

Remember Material, the film about the dutiful young Muslim guy who moonlights as a stand-up comedian in Joburg nightclubs? Well, the sequel, New Material, is out.

Riaad Moosa plays Cassim Kaif, who continues to ply his trade as a Muslim comedian while balancing the demands of a marriage, a young child, and living with his ageing parents. His father Ebrahim (Vincent Ebrahim) has reluctantly accepted his son’s career but it’s still a simmering issue. Cassim performs mostly to Johannesburg Muslim audiences but yearns to expand nationally and hone his craft. Yusuf (Joey Rasdien), his best friend and agent, plans a national tour, but is totally out of his depth. From the outset the tour is beset with problems from an overeager sponsor (played by Rajesh Gopie) who expects too much from the deal. Cassim has to make tough decisions when international opportunities present themselves. It’s exactly what Cassim wanted … or is it?

Riaad Moosa

Is an award-winning comedian, presenter, writer and actor. He’s also a qualified medical doctor which means he never has to wonder what he’d be doing if he weren’t acting. His first Netflix special Why do you talk the way you do? was released on Netflix’s Comedians of The World in 2019. Riaad says although he’s not actually able to live the life of an actor, he’s a natural mimic who enjoys impersonation. He wrote the draft for the movie which is loosely based on real life experiences.

Joey Rasdien

Was commissioned to host his own game show, Go for It, on SABC2 and was a presenter for Laugh Out Loud on M-Net. The cult sketch comedy series the Pure Monate Show on SABC1 got him noticed, with the show attracting millions of viewers nationwide. What inspired him to become an entertainer? “I think it is very much the same thing that inspires an accountant to become an accountant. That, and it’s a dream innit?” And if he couldn’t perform, he’d “Probably be an accountant or an imam (person who leads prayers in a mosque).” In preparation for his role in New Material he, “remained friends with Riaad after working with him on the first film, Material.”

Schalk Bezuidenhout

Majored in drama at the University
of Cape Town. What else? He started doing stand-up comedy in 2011. On stage Schalk is fun and energetic and appeals to people of all kinds and colours. His social media following is huge. Schalk is never afraid to say it like it is.

Schalk says he was inspired by Jim Carrey as a child. “I wanted to bring people the joy that he brought me.
If he hadn’t been an actor he says, “Maybe a winemaker. Or, rather, the person who goes to people to sell the wine. I like the sitting with people while drinking wine part.” Preparing for his role in New Material he says,
“To me it felt like we were essentially playing a version of ourselves. I tried to be as open and flexible as possible on set because the real magic happens when Joey and Riaad start improvising. I wanted to contribute to that as much as possible.”