Cape Town - Actor and comedian Rob van Vuuren is one of the country’s most popular performers. He has worked across various genre from acting, writing, directing, dancing to producing.
He gained popularity as the hilarious character Twakkie in the comedy series The Most Amazing Show and for pranking Leon Schuster.
He received Fleur Du Cap and Vita nominations for best supporting actor for his work in both The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Birdy.
His award-winning comedy WhatWhat is on at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio from Monday until mid-January.
How widely have you travelled?
I’ve been to Taiwan, Treviso, Venice, London, Oxford, The Cotswolds, Malaga, Paris (in fact pretty much all of France), Brussels, Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, (some weird little town somewhere in Belgium for a massive music festival called Pukkelpop), Edinburgh, Perth (for my sins), Amsterdam, Gengenbach (yes it is an actual place), Dubai, Dar es Salaam, Aruja, the middle of the Serengeti, Zanzibar, Ponto de Ouro in Mozambique, vast tracts of nothing in Namibia and Springbok.
Where was your favourite holiday or time spent abroad?
A few highlights include a tour of France for about four months and I was lucky enough to have my wife with me. It was an absolutely incredible and unforgettable experience. Some of those experiences even made it into my show WhatWhat.
Last year I spent a month in Edinburgh performing at the Fringe. It was a dream come true. I got to share the experience with friends, my wife and child. We had plenty of time to settle in and explore the city and the festival.
Your worst experience on holiday?
I don’t really get to travel on holiday, it’s mostly for work. In my line of work a holiday is tantamount to unemployment. I have been to Perth though. Performing in 40°C is something I don’t want to repeat soon. Also, a tour to a nearby Koala sanctuary left me scarred emotionally forever.
Your funniest experience?
While having a drink in Perth one night with some friends, one of our party accidentally knocked over a glass. It fell to the floor and shattered. Before the shards had even come to rest a guy appeared out of nowhere, he was more like a bar ninja than bar man. He was armed to the teeth with a cleaning up apparatus that consisted of a mop and bucket, safety cones and a first aid kit. He cordoned off a safety zone in a flash and without even the smallest hint of irony proclaimed in an authoritative manner: “Alright, don’t panic ladies and gentleman, standard operating procedures.”
What do you avoid during a holiday?
Hyenas, koalas and Perth.
Best meal abroad?
Steak Tartare in Avignon.
Your favourite place to have sundowners on your travels?
I learnt in France that the best place and time to have a glass of wine is anywhere at any time of the day.
What have you learnt from your travels?
Don’t touch a koala bear.
Ideal travelling companion?
My wife and daughter.
Culture vulture or adrenaline junkie?
Culture vulture. We quickly figured out that entry to museums across France was free on a Sunday and so we saw them all and raided the buffet breakfasts and made those baguettes last until late-lunch.
Greatest travel luxury?
Money. It’s nice to be able to buy lunch and supper and not have to ration out the breakfast buffet for the rest of the day. Shows, bands, koala detergent; it all costs money.
Holiday reading?
Pratchett, Gaiman and Vonnegut are my favourites.
Favourite drive?
I live in Fish Hoek and the route over Boyes Drive is spectacular, especially when there are whales in the bay.
Dream trip?
My next one as long as it’s not to Perth.
As a seasoned traveller and flyer can you share some tips?
Don’t go to Perth.
Where next?
We were supposed to go to New York this year with a show but our visas got denied. I really hope we can rectify that situation as it’s on my bucket list.
Weekend Argus