Online Reporter
Gift Moyo, [email protected]
Comedian Frank Chirisa is putting the final touches on his upcoming comedy special, Thirty Minutes of Fame, set to be staged later this month at a theatre in Masvingo. The show follows a sold-out and well-received performance at Alliance Française in Bulawayo last month.
Chirisa has steadily built his presence on the local comedy circuit, earning a growing reputation as a performer audiences are increasingly eager to see live.
Now, at a stage where he feels ready to take greater ownership of his craft, Chirisa has chosen to produce his own comedy special, a move he says reflects both his growth and direction in the industry.
In an interview, Chirisa spoke about what reaching this milestone means for him. Explaining what inspired him to stage his own special, he said it felt like a natural progression.
“I’ve been performing sets for a while now, but I wanted to create something permanent — a body of work that shows exactly who I am as a comedian right now. I wanted to capture the energy of the Bulawayo scene in a high-quality way.
“When you feel like you have a solid ‘Thirty Minutes of Fame’ that people are actually willing to pay for and pack a room for, you have to document that moment,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey and the significance of producing his own show, Chirisa, a 2026 National Arts Merit Awards nominee, described the moment as humbling.
“It’s humbling, honestly. It says that the ‘hustle’ is starting to pay off. Going from doing open mics to having a sold-out show where people are standing at the back because the room is over capacity shows a lot of growth. It’s no longer just about telling jokes; it’s about professional execution.
“Having my family there to see it made me realise that I’m no longer just ‘the kid with a dream’, I’m a producer of my own craft now. It’s a huge responsibility, but one that I am ready for.”
Asked whether the production will be made available digitally for those unable to attend, Chirisa confirmed that the show will be filmed.
“Definitely. That was the whole point of filming in 4K. We wanted to make sure that the experience at Alliance Française in Bulawayo lives on beyond that one night. For everyone who couldn’t make it or the people we couldn’t fit in because we literally ran out of chairs, it will be available digitally. I want people across the country and even in the diaspora to see what we are building here.”
On the themes explored in the special, Chirisa said the material is both personal and widely relatable.
“I’m touching on a bit of everything that makes our lives what they are. I talk about the reality of being 25 and still living under my father’s roof (the ‘one baby in the house’ struggle), the madness of our economy, and even some of the local social dynamics we all deal with, but don’t always talk about. It’s very personal but very relatable.
“I’m also excited to keep this momentum going. I’m officially taking the show to Masvingo on May 30. Bulawayo set the bar high by selling out, so I’m looking forward to seeing how Masvingo responds to the ‘Thirty Minutes of Fame’ tour.”
