TRACEY SAUNDERS
Siv Ngesi has been performing since the age of nine and hasn’t stopped since. Recent years have seen him presenting the popular television series Man Cave and travelling around the world on Wingin’ It interspersed with numerous film credits. While occupied with screen work he has neglected the stage, but his four year stage hiatus has come to an end with his return to the Baxter Theatre with his new one man show, SIV-ilized. I asked him what has brought him back?
“It’s been so long, I had to get back on stage to strengthen the comedy muscle and it hasn’t been easy but I have loved every single moment of it. This show is so different to all my other shows, risks will be taken and I look forward to the journey of it,” he explained. With Siv nothing is straight forward and his other more pressing reason, rings true, “But to be honest, I just have so much to get off my chest, so many things I want to say, share or rant about or just laugh about. Join me.”
22 countries in five months!
Wingin’ It has seen Siv travel from one continent to the next, seemingly non-stop. More than a travel show, is has been a profound personal experience for him. “My travel experience has been a dream come true; yes it sounds cliche but it’s true. I love travelling, I love getting paid, I love talking kak and I love being on TV … all the above boxes were ticked all at once. The travel show honestly made me a better human. 22 countries in five months – bliss,” he says. One of the challenges of so much international travel is the inordinate number of airport visits, but even this didn’t phase him. I asked him about his worst airport experience. “No such thing, I take it all on the chin. But Colombia thought I wanted to leave with cocaine, so they searched every single crevice of my body and they found nothing but chocolate skin and I’m ticklish, so I laughed from behind to end. They didn’t find it as funny as I did,” he replies with an impish chuckle.
Siv is as comfortable in the producer’s chair as he is in front of the camera and was recognized with the Spirit of the Fringe award at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown this year where he produced an astonishing fourteen shows which sold a total of 7 372 tickets. When he isn’t producing or presenting, he is very busy on social media and is often tweeting up a storm on Twitter, a medium which seems to suit his personality but is not without its problems. “Twitter gets me in deep kak all the time, I’m like a pig, love me some kak. Twitter is a special medium, I just love saying how I feel, I don’t care what people feel about my truth. But it has its negative side, lots of cyberbullying. But it can change lives,” he reckons.
Changing lives
While Siv is primarily known as a comedian and general fun loving guy, it is that desire to change lives that sets him apart. Not content with merely commenting on what ails society, he is actively involved in projects which make a difference in people’s lives, including his #DignityDrive which provides young women with sanitary products.
I asked him what he saw for the future of the country. “I love this country too much to keep silent, I am a proud South Afri-CAN. If your house was on fire, would you sit back and watch? Okay, saying we are on fire is pushing it, but we are not well. However, I don’t think it’s too late, we can turn it around. I think it’s time we the people, learn that the politicians work for us and that they are accountable to us. Lastly, something needs to change with all the gender violence in the country. I feel so hopeless and defeated when I think about it.”
To find out what he is ranting about now and who has earned his ire join him at the Baxter as he exceeds his 140 character count and really tells you how he feels and why. When you get home follow him on Twitter at @iamSivN.
What: SIV-ilised
Where and when: Baxter Theatre until 14 October 2017
Book: Computicket
WS
