
Top Ventriloquist and Comedian
Conrad Koch is one of South Africa’s most in demand comedy talents. He combines hilarious comedy with world-class puppetry, and has done so for over fifteen years to local and international acclaim.
Conrad Koch was the winner 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 and is a double International EMMY nominated comedian.
He has worked all over the world, been featured on local and international television and is a frequent guest at some of South Africa’s biggest comedy events – Mass Hysteria, Blacks Only, the Smirnoff Comedy Festival, the Vodacom Comedy Festival, Metro FM Comedy Experience, etc.
His most famous character, the puppet political analyst, Mr. Chester Missing, is a highlight on news channel eNCA, and was recently described as the star of the ANC’s Nasrec conference. The first puppet in history to win a court case, Chester has even written a book, and was named one of New African Magazine’s Most Influential Africans.
Conrad’s hit one-man shows have received standing ovations around South Africa. He has performed at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festivals in Montreal, and will be performing at a number of Canadian arts festivals throughout 2018.
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 FNB, Goldfields, Sun International, SAA, etc.
Chester was the first puppet in history to be taken to court, and win. Chester Missing was one of New African magazine’s most Influential Africans, and You Magazine’s Most Influential People. Conrad and Chester were the first recipients of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Certificate of Appreciation for their stance against racism.
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 DJ Hoodie, a puppet made from a hoodie who actually DJs, and a neurotic mosquito, called Mosquito. The show is highly interactive – audience members hilariously become the puppets.
His edu-taining talk, “Making Laughter Work” (on techniques to make the office a more diversity-friendly, pleasant, playful and productive environment), has received standing ovations around the country. This fun-filled interactive talk focuses specifically on creating a client-focused culture, where diversity, customer-centricity and corporate citizenship are lived, rather than just spoken about!
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 (SA’s top puppet political analyst of LNN fame), and Charles Hilary, the celebrity life coach ostrich.
Conrad learned his craft at the College of Magic in Cape Town. He started doing comedy with the UCT Comedy Club, and then the Cape Comedy Collective. He is the only ventriloquist on the circuit, and is dedicated to bettering both his art form, and his contribution to debates on culture as a whole. As far as we know he is the world’s only anthropological ventriloquist.
Creating Productive and Enjoyable Work Team Cultures
Do you want to stop: silo-ing, office politics, discrimination and interpersonal conflict?
Do you want to increase: corporate citizenship, staff retention, networking, job satisfaction, customer service, and a drive toward excellence in performance?
In this rollercoaster ride of entertainment and training Conrad Koch, world class comedian and culture change activist, puts forward techniques, information and insights that managers and employees alike can use to improve the both the quality and productivity of the work climate. The talk is highly interactive, humorously training audiences in how to understand workplace culture, how it affects productivity, and gives practical examples of how to uplift the workplace environment. It also touches on issues of diversity when it comes to humor, and how to create more inclusive work interactions.
Conrad has an MA in corporate culture, and is a double International EMMY nominated comedian, and, with his puppets, is a regular feature on South African TV. He has engaged in large-scale corporate culture change programmes for the likes of SAA, Goldfields, FNB, Sun International, etc. Conrad believes in helping people to have fun and work at the same time (no, really). Through facilitation, learning and comedy this presentation gets participants to realize how to create cultures where people love to work.
“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
“Taking ventriloquism beyond anything in the UK or America” Sunday Times, London
“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