Marc Lottering brings comedy, compassion and a little flair to The Hummingbird Ball

Cape Town comedian Marc Lottering is swapping the stage for a night of glamour and giving back as he joins the Kay Mason Foundation’s Hummingbird Ball at Zeitz MOCAA on 7 October, ***Cape {town} Etc ***reports.

For Marc Lottering, doing good and making people laugh have never been worlds apart.

The Cape Town comedian, who has spent more than two decades entertaining audiences across South Africa, is also known for supporting causes that improve the lives of young people. That commitment has now seen him take on the role of Patron of the Kay Mason Foundation (KMF).

While there may have been a little celebrity magic involved in getting him through the door, Lottering says the foundation’s work with young South Africans ultimately made the decision an easy one. ‘I’ve always wanted to get a phone-call from Lesley-Ann Brandt! So, there’s that,’ he jokes.

Brandt, known internationally for roles in Lucifer and Presumed Innocent, introduced Lottering to the foundation and its work. For the comedian, the focus on helping young people overcome difficult circumstances and reach their potential struck a familiar chord.

‘I support numerous charities that do good for South African youth. Charities that essentially save the life of a young person, providing them with tools that would enable them to fulfil their potential.’

– Marc Lottering

A night where glamour meets purpose

Lottering will join business leaders, sports personalities, and figures from the arts at the Hummingbird Ball, held at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. Sponsored by Barclays, the fundraising event is aimed at supporting KMF’s work with young people from some of South Africa’s most challenging circumstances.

Award-winning author Richard Mason founded the foundation and has focused much of his work on creating opportunities for children whose backgrounds might otherwise limit their futures. Mason says the organisation’s ambition goes beyond simply assisting. ‘The Hummingbird Ball is about solutions,’ he says.

Picture: Supplied

The foundation’s philosophy is rooted in developing educated and ethical young leaders who understand hardship and can ultimately contribute at a much larger level. This makes the evening more than another date on Cape Town’s social calendar. It is also an opportunity to put attention, money and influence behind a long-term investment in young South Africans.

From Mitchells Plain to the stage

Lottering grew up in Mitchells Plain, where his father was the leader of a large church. That upbringing gave him an early awareness of inequality and the importance of sharing what you have. His approach to philanthropy remains remarkably straightforward.

‘Find the philanthropist inside of you,’ he says, before immediately undercutting the seriousness of the advice with a joke: ‘Shoo, I’m starting to feel profound now.’

The comedian believes entertainers have a particularly useful tool when it comes to supporting charitable organisations: their ability to bring people together. Rather than simply asking audiences to donate, Lottering says performers can use what they already do best to raise funds and awareness.

In his own case, that can mean offering a comedy performance where the proceeds go directly towards a cause he supports.

Two decades of making South Africans laugh

Lottering’s charitable work sits alongside a career that has made him one of South Africa’s best-known comedians. He has written 16 one-man stage shows and has collected two Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards and a Naledi Award, along with several nominations during his career.

His latest show, ANKLE MARC, takes a typically Lottering approach to an otherwise painful experience, exploring how he ended up spending eight weeks in a moonboot. The show has been touring around the country, with Lottering promising audiences the same thing he has always aimed to deliver: a chance to leave their troubles at the door for a while.

‘I always want my audience members leaving my show beaming – feeling fantastic!’

– Marc Lottering.

His broader work also reflects a recurring theme of finding common ground between people from very different backgrounds. Whether through stand-up comedy or his larger musical productions, Lottering says laughter and emotion are things everyone shares. He argues that this should also translate into how people treat one another.

Then there is the fashion question

Of course, a gala at Zeitz MOCAA comes with its own expectations. So what will Lottering be wearing when he arrives? His answer is characteristically tongue-in-cheek.

‘I tend to look fabulous naturally. It’s a gay thing!’

– Marc Lottering.

His advice to the other guests is equally on brand: dress up, support the cause and, naturally, make time for a selfie.

For Lottering, the Hummingbird Ball brings together several things he values: entertainment, generosity, community and the opportunity to help change the direction of a young person’s life.

---

Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!

---

Also Read:

Cape Town singer Robin Pieters and husband separate ahead of first anniversary

**Picture: **Supplied

The post Marc Lottering brings comedy, compassion and a little flair to The Hummingbird Ball appeared first on Cape Town ETC.