18 years later, Comedy
Venue: Graham Hotel
Next performance: Monday 30 June 11:30, Tuesday 1 July 19:00
By Gcina Ntsaluba
Chris Mapane’s 18 Years Later is the comedy equivalent of flipping through an old photo album with your funniest friend – every embarrassing memory becomes a reason to laugh.
The South African comedian has struck comedy gold with his latest offering, which chronicles nearly two decades of life’s beautiful disasters. Mapane doesn’t just tell jokes about getting older – he excavates the absurdity buried in every milestone, from the mortifying moments of adolescence to the bewildering adventure of raising children who seem determined to outsmart you.
What makes this show exceptional is Mapane’s ability to make you feel seen. His observations about adulting are delivered with the kind of animated energy that has made him a standout on the South African comedy circuit for over a decade.
Mapane’s credentials speak for themselves: Comics Choice Award nominations, regular hosting gigs on Selimathunzi, and stages shared with international heavyweights. But it’s his genuine warmth and self-deprecating humour that makes 18 Years Later feel less like a performance and more like an intimate conversation with a master storyteller.
The show does hit a few speed bumps in its final third, where some material feels familiar rather than fresh. However, Mapane’s infectious stage presence – the same quality that caught the attention of publications like GQ and earned him spots alongside comedy legends – keeps the energy buoyant throughout.
This is comedy that celebrates rather than mocks the messiness of growing up. Mapane has created a space where your worst memories become communal victories, where the awkwardness of being human transforms into collective joy.
Bottom line: whether you’re 18 minutes or 18 years into figuring out adulthood, this show will remind you that we’re all just making it up as we go along – and that’s perfectly hilarious.
