Creative director and talented entertainer Emo Adams, formerly from Eastridge, returns to the Funny Festival stage.
He told the Plainsman that anyone who did not come “out to enjoy a lekker evening of laughter“ at the Jive Cape Town Funny Festival at the Baxter Theatre between June 5 and July 2 would be missing out on seeing unique talents.
Emo said a highlight of the show for him was being able to share the stage with talents he would not usually share a stage with. He usually sings and dances. The stand-up comedian in him is like a side show.
“It’s amazing to get to experience such talent up close and personal,” he said.
He spent much of his youth playing songs and sounds of harmony alongside his music-loving father, Omar Adams, better known as Boeta Maan, the founder of drama group Kinders Van Die Ses and learnt much of the rhythms from his equally talented elder brother, Luqmaan Adams.
Emo is a nationally well-loved entertainer and is in huge demand as one of the country’s top comics.
The comedy variety show brings together some of South Africa’s favourite comics and the world’s top variety acts at the Rondebosch theatre this month.
When asked for his full names and surname he replied: “Emo Adams but formerly known as Brad Pitt”.
He did not reveal his age and said: “oud maar noggie koud nie”.
Even though he now lives in the northern suburbs, he frequently visits his mom, who lives in Lentegeur.
Emo grew up in Eastridge for most of his teens and attended Spine Road High School in Rocklands.
In recent months he had performed in Mitchell’s Plain to help raise funds at different schools in the area (“Adams brothers at West End Primary”, Plainsman, March 8).
Last year he was also part of a fund-raising concert to help get Mitchell’s Plain matriculants to apply for their learner’s and driver’s licences.
This is his second Funny Festival experience.
The Plainsman asked whether Mitchell’s Plain contributed to his success and how?
“Where people are from are many times the key factor to their success and to relate to a community you need to be from the community,” he said.
In parting advice to aspiring talents in and from Mitchell’s Plain, Emo said that they were only as good as how hard they work. “You are like a car, the amount of fuel you put in, will predict your distance.
“If you don’t understand the analogy, then you’re not ready for this industry,” he said.
Emo will be on stage for the full month-long Funny Festival, except for Friday June 30.
The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival is at the Baxter Theatre from June 5 to July 2 and tickets are available through Webtickets. Evening performances are at 8pm and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4pm; no under-16s.
For more details about group discounts, visit www.funnyfestival.co.za or call 082 450 3151.
