The name is Randy Feltface, and this purple puppet is set to delight audiences in Antwerp.
Randy’s “First Banana” World Tour features just one appearance in Belgium and that is at the delightful Stadsschouwburg (city theatre) in Antwerp on 14 June.
For those unfamiliar with him, the Purple Puppet is, in fact, a felt doll operated by Aussie Heath McIvor, who began his career in puppetry at age 13 way back in 1993.
Last year the Australian puppet comedian made his debut in Belgium, to great acclaim with one sold out concert and extra show added.
Tickets for his performance in Antwerp are selling fast so people here who want to catch this unusual act are being advised to move quickly before it too sells out.
Randy Feltface has spent some 18 years carving out a unique niche on the international comedy circuit.
He was nominated for best comedy at the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival, played sold out seasons in London and New York and featured several times at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival.
He made his US television debut as crowd favourite on NBC’s Bring The Funny, and his comedy specials have become pirated YouTube sensations.
The hilarious purple doll, who originates from Australia and has been described as a “phenomenon.”
His live shows are remarkable for this interaction with the audience, his direct humour and, especially,his enormous energy on stage.
He is recognized as one of the most original and popular figures in the contemporary comedy scene.
The show in Belgium this summer is organised by LiveComedy.be, a leading Ghent-based event management company.
A spokesman said, “Randy Feltface has built an impressive collection of critical acclaim, awards and a devoted fan base thanks to his unique style.
“With dozens of shows to his name and seven comedy specials released, he was even nominated for ‘Best Comedy’ at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe.”
An important chapter in Randy’s career was his collaboration with musical comedian Sammy J, which resulted in the creation of the award-winning program ‘Ricketts Lane’ in 2010.
This collaboration later evolved into a television series that aired on various platforms worldwide.
Randy’s successful performance in ‘Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane‘ even earned him a nomination for the AACTA Award for Best Performer in a Comedy Series, making history as the first non-human performer to receive recognition in this category.
His shows normally run from 90 minutes to two hours and, in ‘First Banana’, he discusses the downfall of humanity (with a large dose of humour, of course).
The Stadsschouwburg, which first opened in 1980 and can hold about 2,000 people, is a 15-minute walk from Antwerp Central train station.
The nearest tram and bus stops are National Bank, Rubenslei, Stadspark and Meir. Parking for visitors with disabilities is available at the exit of the city theatre.
Tickets for ‘First Banana’ are on sale via LiveComedy.be.
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