The weird life of a voice comic

Ventriloquism has been around since around the sixth century BC - but some people still don't have the hang of it.

South African vent Conrad Koch, currently in London for a stint at the Riverside Studios, says his puppet, Ronnie, is often treated like a human.

He said: "Once a guy at a Cape Town club tried to give me two mics, one for the puppet, and another for me.

"And frequently I have woman come up to me who've had a bit to drink and flirt with Ronnie - but aren't remotely interested in me."

Some of his encounters are just weird. "At Cool Runnings in Jo'burg, one of the barman got upset at a routine of mine where Nelson Mandela talks to me from my bag," Koch said. "He was worried that I actually had him doing an extra few years in there!"

But a ventriloquist's talent can come in handy. Kock once hitched a 300km ride, just because he made the family dog talk for the driver's kids.

Kock is one of the comics in Stand-Up South Africa at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, from tonight until April 6.

Published: 12 Mar 2002