Conrad Koch & Chester Missing

“Fiercely intelligent… Frenzied Hilarity” The List, UK

Conrad Koch is an internationally acclaimed South African comedy ventriloquist.

The CBC in Canada said “my face hurt from laughing so hard”, describing Conrad’s work as “absolutely delightful and technically brilliant”, “Koch throws away more laugh lines than many shows have in the first place”.

OUTinPerth described his show as an “utter delight”, “a cutting satire of modern society” and that “there was not a dry eye left in the house, young or old alike.”

Starting out at the College of Magic in Cape Town, Conrad combines hilarious comedy with world-class puppetry, and has won numerous awards, including Entertainer of the Year award, a Standard Bank Ovation Award from the National Arts Festival, The Times Comic’s Pen Award, has been nominated for the Comic’s Choice Comedian of the Year, Comedy G and Flying Solo awards and is a double International EMMY nominated comedian.

He has worked all over the world, been featured on local and international television, Comedy Central, Comedy Network, etc, and is a frequent guest at some of South Africa’s biggest comedy events.

His most famous character, the puppet political analyst, Mr. Chester Missing, has been a highlight on South African TV for years both on the hit show Late Night News with Loyiso Gola and on his own hugely popular weekly satirical news show, Almost News with Chester Missing. The use of a puppet to get political players to let down their guards was lauded as completely unique. In fact Chester Missing has been asked by the likes of City Press, Natal Witness, Reuters, the BBC, the Mail and Guardian, etc, to comment on political affairs. The first puppet in history to win a court case (after going to court with a famous South African racist), Chester has even written a book, was named one of New African Magazine’s Most Influential Africans, and with Conrad was the first recipient of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Anti-Racism Award.

Conrad’s hit one-man shows have received standing ovations around South Africa and globally. He has performed at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and the Montreux Comedy Festival in Switzerland. Internationally he has had repeat 5 star rave reviews in both Canada and Australia, selling out almost his entire run in Canada.

Conrad has studied psychology and is a social anthropologist – he has a master’s degree in the subject from WITS University (Cum Laude), focusing on corporate and African culture. He has had extensive experience implementing culture change programmes for the likes of Goldfields, Sun International, SAA, etc. Dealing with complex issues with nuance and sensitivity while it funny is his comedy specialty.

Conrad has audiences in stitches by talking to himself through a variety of extremely eccentric characters. Self-ridicule has never been this fun. Meet Mr. Chester Missing, satirical political analyst, Hilton, an ostrich made from two feather dusters and a slipper, and Mr. Dixon, out of sorts schoolteacher and rugby coach, and more! The show is highly interactive – audience members hilariously become the puppets.

“Intelligent, unhinged ventriloquism at its very best” The Star

“Reviews will use descriptive words like ‘pioneering’, ‘master-class’, and ‘mini renaissance’ but it really is that outstanding” The Citizen

“quite breathtaking: delightfully entertaining, intellectually stimulating and technically brilliant.” The Cape Times

“Brings the roof down” The Independent, London

“Delicious…hilarious ventriloquised repartee” The Argus

“Hilarious.” Mail & Guardian

“I almost cried with laughter” The Herald

“You were truly hilarious and I hugely enjoyed the show! A million thanks for keeping it all together with such skill and professionalism.” Bonang Mohale, Chairman of Shell SA

“Thanks so much for being part of our event – we have had such fantastic feedback from the event and without you it would have just been death by PowerPoint. Your ears must have been burning all day, because StorTech cannot stop talking about you.” StorTech

“I’ve had an incredible amount of positive feedback on our session. You were awesome; many thanks.” Dr. Brian Armstrong, Senior Managing Executive: Telkom Business