London U.K.: - “Free South African Comedians” is the first South African comedy showcase featuring 4 international South African stand-up comedians at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2005.

The show as billed in the official Edinburgh Fringe guide: “South Africa has 11 official languages - it’s the confused rainbow-nation. From Apartheid to Mandela and ‘2-year working visa’s’, South African comedians and their twisted tales from the country the world shunned & now embraces”. The show, tantamount to South African comedy history, is aimed at both an expatriate but more importantly international audience in Edinburgh.

Hosting is Glen Bo, originally hailing from Mooinooi near Jo’burg, who has been based in London and has been working the international U.K. comedy circuit for the last 3 years. Billed as a confident, impish comic that is emotionally-gripping and infectiously funny. Glen has performed from London to Plymouth and zigzagged across the country up to Edinburgh. He is one of the few S.A. comics that have hacked away relentlessly at the tough U.K. market. Now billed with some of the U.K. and worlds biggest names he is out to prove a point. Glen’s cult status amongst the South African expatriate community in London has also lead him to write the entertainment and opinion column in the S.A. Times Newspaper. He is currently the only South African stand-up comedian to perform on an international bill in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in the Middle East. Glen is the promoter for upnundercomedy.com.

Chris Forrest is South Africa's answer to Steven Wright, the deadpan face of American stand-up. Chris' witty and cynical one-line humour is thought provoking and to the point. Totally nerdish and unflappable, his Drew Carey-looks and slowed-up delivery has ensured that audiences take to him enthusiastically. Accolades include: 5fm comedy piece of the year 2000 and performing on heavyweight comedy / international festival bills for the last five years. He has appeared on S.A. television in numerous shows and campaigns like “Coach Joe” in the Sasol Ad-campaign, but most impressively as a writer / performer on the Pure Monate, a comedy-sketch show on SABC 1, South Africa’s version of the BBC.

Paul Snodgrass is the Capetonian representative on the tour; with his slick, energetic performances he has worked the S.A. Comedy circuit for over 5 years and is looking forward to wooing international audiences with his compelling persona. Staff comedy writer for E-tv (S.A.’s Channel 4) Paul is an awarded and acclaimed copywriter and an established stand-up performer. He too has been on Heavyweight and international comedy bills in S.A. and is one of the founding members of the Cape Comedy Collective.