WITH
ENTERTAINMENT
5 MINUTES
WITH
Phil de Lange
BY VENECIA VALENTINE
Comedian Phil de Lange talks musical comedy, unpredictable audiences and South Africans’ talent for finding a joke in almost anything.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT SA THAT PROVIDES SUCH RICH MATERIAL FOR COMEDY? You’ ve heard the phrase“ South Africa is a movie”. It’ s true, and the plot twist is that we’ re very creative when it comes to making jokes about everything.
HAVE YOU EVER TACKLED A TOPIC ON STAGE THAT YOU KNEW MIGHT DIVIDE YOUR AUDIENCE? Comedy is strange in that any topic can feel divisive depending on the crowd you’ re performing to. If something feels like it doesn’ t work on a particular night, or only half the crowd finds it funny, it can feel as though you’ ve created a bit of division.
But that’ s just part of the experience of working a crowd.
HOW HAS THE COMEDY LANDSCAPE EVOLVED? I started around the time when social media was slowly being used more and more, and we were still trying to sell tickets through posters, flyers, and online forums. That changed very quickly, and now it feels like an attention economy. Beyond that, I feel as though the scene has opened up for a lot of people, especially in Cape Town. I am seeing more stages, shows, and comedians coming up than I remember. It’ s a very fun and exciting place to be right now.
WHICH COMEDIANS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE?
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I hope I haven’ t emulated anyone’ s style, but I’ d probably say Bill Bailey and Demetri Martin. They just approach stand-up a bit differently and incorporate music, which is similar to what I do.
LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT WOULD YOU STILL LIKE TO ACHIEVE IN YOUR COMEDY CAREER? IS THERE A DREAM PROJECT OR STAGE YOU’ RE HOPING TO CONQUER? I’ d definitely love to do more fringe festivals around the world. I did the Edinburgh Fringe last year, and it made me want to give Adelaide a go too.
I I also have a long-standing dream of doing a theatre run at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio. IB
26 INBOUND SA / OCTOBER 2026