I don't know about you but I've always thought that Trevor Noah's done loads of one-man shows. He's so confident and Pro when he's jokin' that it feels as if he's been headlining solo stand-up for years already.
The facts: he hasn't. Last month he launched his first ever one-man shindig at Gold Reef City, Jozi. The show's called The Daywalker, it ran for two live performances, it was filmed for DVD and Nu Metro has picked it up for the cinema circuit.
The movie premieres at Nu Metro's today (Thursday, 5 November 2009) as part of their Comedy Podium series - a series of fliks that spotlights top South African comedians.
It's being screened countrywide, every Thursday throughout November. To find out more and to have a chuckle I chatted to Trev' (trying to sound schmancy "in-the-know"):
Tashi: The Daywalker: from stage to the Big Screen - how did it happen?
Trevor: Wow, I just, I don’t know actually - it was just something, like a lot of things in my life, that just happened. One minute I wasn’t doing it and then I was. One minute I wasn’t doing the show, then I was and the next thing I decided to shoot it.
I live my life one step at a time so that there’s no over-thinking and so on. I got approached to broadcast it and license it and stuff so that’s how it worked out.
Tashi: Have you seen it as a movie yet?
Trevor: I don’t think I’ll ever see it.
Tashi: Oh? I was gonna ask what it’s like seeing yourself so BIG?
Trevor: I don’t watch myself - you know why, I get too self-conscious and then I won’t give my best performance the next time. I’ll keep thinking “I can’t believe I made a face like that,” or “I Can’t believe I looked that on stage and did that,” - I’d just be too self-conscious.
Tashi: So you’ve never watched yourself on TV either?
Trevor: No I don’t.
Tashi: Have you ever watched anything?
Trevor: Maybe little bits - like sometimes I’ve caught myself in little bits on TV and I change the channel very quickly.
Tashi: Is it a pressure being a comedian? Do your friends and family always ask you to tell jokes?
Trevor: Oh no, friends and family know better than to do that. They know that after that question there will be swift slaps delivered - equally amongst all. The public does ask for that quite a lot - I tell them I’m Off Duty. Sometimes you indulge people and sometimes you slide out of it.
Tashi: How many girlfriends have you snagged by getting them to laugh?
Trevor: All of them I hope.
Tashi: Have there been many?
Trevor: No not really, I don’t think.
Tashi: Do you have one right now?
Trevor: Sometimes and sometimes I don’t - I never know. I always lie about that in the media, I never tell the truth. I just see how I’m feeling for that month and I give the answer for however I’m feeling.
Tashi: What made you decide to become a stand-up comic? How did it happen?
Trevor: My friends decided that I should be one. I was at a club watching comedy - my first time watching - and my friends convinced me to go to do an open spot.
Tashi: So what did you do?
Trevor: I just spoke and it went well - I felt at home on stage. That was three years ago ... then I started doing it everywhere. It was a hobby - I never thought comedy would be my job. I really love doing it - I’d do it for free but don’t tell anyone.
Tashi: Okay. What would your job have been if you didn’t do comedy?
Trevor: I’d probably have been a television presenter, maybe an actor, maybe a radio personality.
Tashi: The show - why is it called The Daywalker?
Trevor: I never tell people that - I say they have to see the show because it explains everything.
Tashi: Your inspiration for it’s based on growing up in a black and white family - your parents have obviously seen it?
Trevor: No they haven’t.
Tashi: No ways!
Trevor: I don’t think my family’s ever seen my stand-up.
Tashi: Why not?
Trevor: I don’t know - I think I’d be too nervous if they came to a show. It’s fine if they want to see the DVD but I can’t have them in the audience. I can’t know anyone in the audience.
Tashi: So what happens if you do know people?
Trevor: Then it becomes a horrible mission for me to perform.
Tashi: I was wondering what your parents feel about being the stars of your show but they obviously don’t have any perspective on it.
Trevor: Nope. They have no idea.
Tashi: What do they think of it all?
Trevor: They don’t mind, it’s just one of those things - they treat it like a job I guess.
Tashi: So if they want to come to one of your shows, do you go “No-no-no you can’t.”
Trevor: No they’ve never asked to come to a show and I’ve never invited them - I think we have a silent agreement.
Tashi: Can you share one of the funniest moments you’ve had on stage?
Trevor: You know, what’s so funny is that something will happen and it’ll feel like you’ll never forget it and then you do the next show and you can’t remember a thing. I live from one performance to the next. Doing the Daywalker has easily been the Most Memorable moment though - when you walk out there, knowing everyone’s come to see you specifically.
Tashi: Yes this is your first one-man - it’s interesting ‘cos I have the sense that you’ve already done many-many.
Trevor: No this is my first so it really was a very memorable moment.
Tashi: Who’s your all-time fave comic hero?
Trevor: Eddie Murphy, hands on. He’s amazing - I love his style.
Trevor getting touched-up between takes on the first episode of The Gareth Cliff Show
Tashi: What are your TV plans for the future? Will we see you back on the small screen soon?
Trevor: Soon is relative - I’m working on a TV show right now so we’ll have to see when that comes out, or doesn’t.
Tashi: That sounds great - a one-man show? What type of show?
Trevor: It’ll be like a late-night type show, not really talk, more a window in into my mind.
Tashi: Will it be in studio or out and about?
Trevor: In a studio, with guests and so on.
Tashi: And your plans for Daywalker as a live show?
Trevor: I’m gonna try to get it out to as many places as possible: small places, big places, Cape Town, Durban - all over.
Tashi: I know when you were doing the Gareth Cliff show you were headed overseas - do you have any international plans for it?
Trevor: It’s a very South African show so if I were to take it overseas I’d change because obviously the point of view becomes completely different when you’re speaking to an international audience.
Tashi: Going to the US, it must interesting getting their response?
Trevor: It is - very interesting to see their sense of humour.
Ends
Trev's just left for the US again ... here's his most latest tweet:
"
At a some lounge in LA, they having open spots for singers- amazing! Americans are talented and confident oh and a little fat."