In all honesty it has been some time since my last visit to the Cape Town Comedy Club, but as a self proclaimed, "Friend of Comedy" I can safely say that a trip to the club, will surely leave you with long-laughing (lasting) memories.

Tons of laughter mixed in with some good food and drinks, ambient lighting and crowd interaction is but a mere taste of what can be expected and this week is no different.

*I mean just have a look at this line-up:

Wednesday 20th July 2016 HEADLINE: Dalin Oliver MC: Mark Palmer (UK) SUPPORT ACT: Stuart Cairns OPEN MIC: Darren Amos / Alice Woods (US)	Thursday 21st July 2016 HEADLINE: Dalin Oliver MC: Mark Palmer (UK) SUPPORT ACT: Stuart Cairns OPEN MIC: Darren Amos
Friday 22nd July 2016 HEADLINE: Dalin Oliver MC: Mark Palmer (UK) SUPPORT ACT: Stuart Cairns OPEN MIC: Darren Amos	Saturday 23rd July 2016 HEADLINE: Dalin Oliver MC: Mark Palmer (UK) SUPPORT ACT: Stuart Cairns OPEN MIC: Darren Amos

Competition Time:
All you have to do to stand a chance to win 4 tickets to the show this Thursday is:

1. Like the VersatileLyle Facebook Page
2. Share this post on Facebook 
3. Answer the question by commenting in the comment section of this post:
4. "Who is the Headline Act for this week?"

Now I usually present these interviews as a write up for you the reader to read, well this time round I decided to do things a bit differently.

The interview was conducted using whatsapp as a medium to communicate. I would send Dalin a recorded question and he would reply by recording himself and sending it back to me.

In this interview we get to know Dalin a bit more from his tea obsession, his love for cricket, being chosen as an ambassador for Cape Town Sixes, his stand-up comedy career and his one man show - "I Came, I Taught, I Left".


One plus about interviewing him, was having the privilege (getting comps from him) of being able to attend his show. Just a side note on the show, as he would put it, "It's DIK funny!" And I would have to agree with him there. It was DIK funny and I was glad I got the opportunity to see it live.

I Came, I Taught, I Left (ICITIL), is all about his journey from high school to studying to become a teacher at UCT, to going back to teach at his former high school. Dealing with teachers all over again and parents of the scholars. He also takes the audience on a trip down memory lane having them relive their high school experiences. ICITIL runs from the 22 Feb - 5 March in the Golden Arrow Studio at the Baxter Theatre.

For more info visit on Dalin and his show visit: http://www.dalinoliver.com

After the show and after Dalin greeted all his fans, we (Miss Molly and I) proceeded backstage to conduct the rest of the interview. At this point security guards on duty began locking up the entrances. We concluded the interview and Dalin directed us to the exit. We exited through the door of the balcony and walked around to the next exit, only to find that it was locked and when we tried to make our way back in we found the those doors locked too! 

All in all I would just like to say thanks to Dalin for showing us the wrong way out and then for saving us from being stuck there for the night. We loved your show but not to the point that we were willing to sleep over at the Baxter.

Yes, ladies and gentleman, I am talking about none other than Dalin Oliver (he's a stand-up comedian for those of you who don’t know).

Our first encounter was at the Chilli Bar on a Thursday night. Dalin walked on stage full of confidence and entertained the crowd with is unique sense of humour. Now, about four years later, I watched Dalin perform at the Baxter Theatre in his one-man-stand-up-comedy-show: I Came, I Taught, I Left.

What an amazing experience it is to watch someone grow the way I’ve watched Dalin grow (yes, dude, I have been stalking you for quite some time). From a “hello, bye” guy to a hug and “howsit!” guy. Dalin has not let the fame get to his nose head.

The show is about Dalin’s life experiences and he is extremely descriptive in the way he explains his encounters with his friends, family, colleagues, learners and educators which makes the show quite intimate (the intimacy could be because of the venue setting).

I would recommend all educators to watch this show as a “you are not alone in the struggle” team-building. Everyone can relate to this show and have a good laugh at the same time (except home-schooled kids who won’t really understand). Dalin interacts with the crowd, so if you fancy yourself a joke(r) or just love being in the spotlight, book your tickets now!

I saw Stuart Taylor after the show and he looked at me and I looked at him thinking “I know you, I wrote about you… but you don’t even know I exist”

*note to self* 
Learn how to use Twitter and get people to like my Facebook Page.

Dalin was kind enough to take me backstage for a short interview and to have a quick catch-up. I of course didn’t say five words to him – VersatileLyle did all the talking.

STUART TAYLOR this Thursday at The Chilli Bar with Nelson De Gouveia, Dalin Oliver, James Enstrom 9pm R30


"Versatile Lyle"

Out!