10 Questions For: Devin Gray

This Cape Town-based comedian has made audiences laugh on various platforms including Comedy Central, Cape Town Comedy Club and Parker’s Comedy and Jive, as well as at various major music festivals. When he isn’t telling jokes Devin likes to eat ice cream. It doesn’t matter what flavour really, just as long as it is ice cream.

1. How would you describe what you do for a living?
I like to believe that I take a small group of people away from reality for a brief moment in time. I provide, or at least attempt to provide, laughter which is also seen as a small seizure. This is one of my favourite things on earth. The best thing about laughter is that it occurs unconsciously. You don’t decide to do it, and that in itself means that you are in the moment. Stand-up comedy for me is the ability to give people as much joy as possible leaving them revitalised and in a state of euphoria. 

2. What is your most vivid childhood memory?
This could get dark, but in the spirit of comedy, let’s keep it light. I remember once wanting to fit in with the cool kids so much that I took my little black plastic motorbike over a ramp. Let's just say nothing good happens when a bunch of guys get together and say: "Let's make a ramp!"

3. If you could invite any three people, dead or alive, for dinner, who would they be and why?
1. Douglas Adams [English writer, humourist and dramatist, best known for his novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.]
2. Chuck Palahniuk [American novelist and journalist, best known as the author of the award-winning novel Fight Club.]
3. Alan Watts [British-born American philosopher, writer and speaker, best known as an interpreter and populariser of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience.]

This would without a doubt be the best dinner party under the sun… depending on how late you have your dinner, and what season Cape Town is in. I do however hope that Douglas and Alan are brought back to life for this event as having dead people at dinner may ruin the food. 

4. If you ever found yourself auditioning for a music reality TV show, what song would you sing and why?
Probably something by Duran Duran or Justin Timberlake just to add good measure to the fact that I cannot sing and never should. The wooden mic is mine!

 

5. How would you complete this sentence?  The South African cabinet should include a Minister of __________________________________.
“Keeping the Peace.” Basically just a dude who runs around town stopping people from getting into fights outside nightclubs and attacking (physically and emotionally) comedians for making jokes.

6. What would you say is the biggest misconception about you?
I tend to get the whole "you're so quiet for a comedian". I guess the misconception is that a comedian is always funny. This is not the case. Comedians prepare their material for the stage, it is a process and being funny all the time would be quite a chore. 

7. What is your (honest) opinion of Cape Town?
Honestly? It is the definition of perfection. That’s all. 

8. What's the greatest fear you've had to overcome to get where you are today?
I had to learn to be ok with myself, to open up and expose pieces of me that may go against the norm. I am by nature a little shy and awkward, which I would overcompensate for as a child. However, as a comedian I have learned that being me is perfectly ok and I have implemented this into my everyday life.

9. What's the one thing you'd like to achieve before you die?
Comedy at every major festival and in every country across the globe. Travel with heart and do what I love. Also I would like to eventually find out what to do with all that junk inside the trunk.

10. Which well-known South African personality would you, without a doubt, be able to beat in a street fight and why?  
Prison rules or standard street fight? 
Prison rules, probably Siv Ngesi or someone who trains a lot.
Standard rules, not many… this sort of fight is just me slapping at random. Maybe Leon Schuster? But a loose maybe, he knows how to take a slap!

Image Credit: Oratile Molotsi.

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ABOUT #CapeTownMag10Q:

CapeTownMagazine.com’s 10 Questions project gets to know some of the Mother City’s most creative and inspiring people. From television personalities and musicians to politicians and entrepreneurs, we find out more about well-known and up-and-coming Capetonians. You can follow #CapeTownMag10Q on Twitter and Facebook to track recent interviews or read more here about our other awesome 10 Questions candidates. 

A FEW OF OUR OTHER 10Q CANDIDATES:

10 Questions For Comedian Dalin Oliver

10 Questions For Electro Duo Locnville

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Here are some other super funny places to watch Stand-Up Comedy in Cape Town. Haha. Ha. 

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