Al Prodgers Comedy Biography (Abridged)

Al Prodgers Comedy Biography

International Stand-Up Comedy

Al has regularly appeared on international comedy stages from Seychelles and Mauritius to sophisticated venues in London, UK. He has entertained audiences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and worked closer to home in Windhoek, Maputo and Gaberone.

Al achieved notable success as a finalist at the Yuk Yuks Great Canadian Laugh Off (2007), an international comedy competition in Toronto with thousands of entrants from around the world. Al beat the odds by winning all the way through to the grand final, the last round of 8 comics. He is the only non-Canadian act to have made it to the big clincher.

In 2002, Al hosted the comedy festival, “Stand Up South Africa” in London and won excellent reviews for his hilarious explanation of his homeland to intrigued international spectators and homesick expatriates alike.

When legendary US comedian, Steven Wright toured South Africa, Al Prodgers was chosen to support him in Cape Town.

In 2008 and 2009 Al participated in the M-Net shows Stand-Up Zambia and Stand-Up Uganda, sharing his wealth of skill and experience with the aspiring young comics, coaching them to access their own comic style.

Al is now a Comedy Columnist too.

He has become a regular contributor of comedy articles to the popular Internet magazine and newsletter, Joburg.co.za

South African Events

Al is a popular feature at the Heavyweight Comedy Jams in major centres around the country.
In 2008, Al featured on the Johannesburg Arts Alive Festival comedy bill. He has performed in this hugely popular event every year since 2005.
He thrilled the crowd at the 94.7/Rapport Raw Rocks Festival in the Sun City Super Bowl last year.
He’s been a regular at the Smirnoff International Comedy Festival and has had successful solo shows at the Grahamstown Festival Fringe.
In 2006, he flew the flag in Durban at the East Coast Radio Comedy Invasion Tour with visiting Australian and British comics.

Television

Al co-hosted the SABC 3 actuality programme, Zooming In On Men in 2008-2009.
His performance at the Yuk Yuks Great Canadian Laugh Off was filmed for the highly rated channel, “The Comedy Network” and viewed acrossNorth America.
Other appearances include an ongoing comic character (Maxime) on Africa’s most watched soapy, Generations. For variety, he also played a homicidal maniac on Isidingo.

Corporate Stand-Up/ MC

Al has been entrusted to entertain international corporate audiences such as the 2009ECSAFA (Eastern, Central & Southern African Federation of Accountants) annual conference.
As a keen golfer, he enjoys performing at corporate Golf Days and sharing anecdotes of the tribulations of the golf course.
Al is an experienced emcee for multi-day conferences. Blue chip clients include Edcon/CNA and Volkswagen South Africa.
He has worked for market leading communications companies such as The Blue Moon Company and VWV.

Al Prodgers Stand-Up Comic / MC

South Africans are sunny, optimistic people and a smile is a tonic in the toughest of times. So, as the year-end kicks into high gear, why not consider adding stand-up comedy to your corporate function as a good way to cheer up your guests and motivate your staff?

Al Prodgers would love to be your comedian of choice and we think you’d enjoy him too. Here’s why…

Al’s comedy is funny. Really funny.

See his biography for a list of references in South Africa and internationally.
Springing from the things in life we all have in common, the laughs are accessible to South Africans and overseas visitors alike.

Al is an experienced and effective corporate communicator.

He can seamlessly include the relevant messaging to suite your occasion.
He is versatile and able to work to a brief, accommodating your organisation’s special requirements and avoiding unique sensitivities.

His comedy is anempowering experience.

It encourages us to play an active role in shaping our future.
He highlights what we have in common and stimulates enhanced teamwork.Al is an official member of the Proudly South African campaign
He is the only comedian to have received this prestigious accreditation.
He does not exploit racial, gender or religious stereotypes to make anyone in the audience feel bad, but rather sees our diversity as a source of pride.
He believes that stand-up comedy is an effective and immediate tool for building a better South Africa.

Need an accomplished MC to keep your function on track? Al Prodgers is your guy.

Please see his biography for a short list of references.
Al has entertained many golf days and even run the occasional charity auction.