Ben Voss
Encyclopedia
Ben Voss is a South African comedian
, actor
and playwright
. He has been a professional actor, playwright and producer since 1998 and is best known for his portrayal of fictional character, Beauty Ramapelepele.
and educated at Uthongathi School, KwaZulu-Natal
, South Africa
, where he matriculated in 1990. He then went on to complete an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering at the then University of Natal
. He followed that with a post-graduate degree in Human Resources at the same institution. After a gap year
in South East Asia he returned to Durban
, South Africa
to take up a post as an engineer in the paper industry.
(of Spud fame), produced and performed the comedy skit shows Green Mamba and Black Mamba. Both won many of South Africa’s major comedy awards and led to a run at the Wimbledon Theatre in London
.
In Spud - the Movie, Voss plays Mr Lily, Spud's art teacher and under-14D/E rugby coach.
In addition to Voss's contributions to the South African comedy circuit, he is also an accomplished actor and script-writer with particular accolades for his performances in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in 2001 and the title role in Macbeth
in 2002.
. His shows, Beauty and the B.E.E.
and Bend it like Beauty have played in South Africa and abroad. Voss has also shared the stage with Pieter-Dirk Uys
's "Evita" and is fast becoming a leading South African personality.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
. He has been a professional actor, playwright and producer since 1998 and is best known for his portrayal of fictional character, Beauty Ramapelepele.
Formative Years
He was born in ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and educated at Uthongathi School, KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where he matriculated in 1990. He then went on to complete an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering at the then University of Natal
University of Natal
The University of Natal was a university in Natal, and later KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, that is now part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It was founded in 1910 as the Natal University College in Pietermaritzburg, and expanded to include a campus in Durban in 1931. In 1947, the university...
. He followed that with a post-graduate degree in Human Resources at the same institution. After a gap year
Gap year
An expression or phrase that is associated with taking time out to travel in between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out that refers to a period of time in which students disengage from curricular education and undertake non curricular activities, such as travel or...
in South East Asia he returned to Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to take up a post as an engineer in the paper industry.
Performing Arts Career
Voss became disillusioned with his engineering career and, in January 1997, he started a career in acting despite any formal training in the performing arts. He set up the production company, Mamba Productions and together with John van de RuitJohn van de Ruit
John Howard van de Ruit is a South African novelist, actor, playwright and producer. He has been a professional actor, playwright and producer since 1998. He was born in Durban and educated at Michaelhouse, where he stayed in Founders House and from where he matriculated in 1993...
(of Spud fame), produced and performed the comedy skit shows Green Mamba and Black Mamba. Both won many of South Africa’s major comedy awards and led to a run at the Wimbledon Theatre in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In Spud - the Movie, Voss plays Mr Lily, Spud's art teacher and under-14D/E rugby coach.
In addition to Voss's contributions to the South African comedy circuit, he is also an accomplished actor and script-writer with particular accolades for his performances in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in 2001 and the title role in Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
in 2002.
Beauty Ramapelepele
Voss is arguably most well known for his portrayal of the fictional South African business woman, Beauty Ramapelepele. Voss uses the alter-ego of Ramapelepele to deliver satirical social commentary on life in post-apartheid South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. His shows, Beauty and the B.E.E.
Black Economic Empowerment
Black Economic Empowerment is a programme launched by the South African government to redress the inequalities of Apartheid by giving previously disadvantaged groups economic opportunities previously not available to them...
and Bend it like Beauty have played in South Africa and abroad. Voss has also shared the stage with Pieter-Dirk Uys
Pieter-Dirk Uys
Pieter-Dirk Uys is a South African satirist, active as a performer, author, and social activist. He is the son of a Calvinist Afrikaner father and Berlin-born Jewish mother and had an NG Kerk upbringing. He began his dramatic career as a serious playwright, switching to one-man revues at the...
's "Evita" and is fast becoming a leading South African personality.
External links
- Interview with John van de Ruit and Ben Voss about the comedy 'Green Mamba'
- Mamba Productions YouTube Channel
- Ben Voss's website
- Mamba Productions website