Mark Banks

(1959/1960*-) Comedian, revue artist, MC and corporate entertainer. Born in Manchester, the year Valium was discovered. Mark Banks arrived in South Africa at age nine, receiving his education in the Cape. Subsequently worked as an usher, a bit-player, and stage and company manager before the vision of his future came in a blinding flash - that of presenting a one man show. Launched his career in stand-up comedy with a 10 minute skit on Zola Budd at No 58, then in 19856 did his first one man show Stars of South Africa at the Grahamstown Festival in 1986, where he was spotted by Diane Wilson, after which he did a number of revues, culminating in hundreds of shows all around South Africa. Other revues over the years include We’re Not on Top… We’re Inside (The Laager, 1987), It’s Getting Harder (Pieter Toerien, 1988), A Room with a Revue (Market Theatre 1990), Laughing all the Way to the Banks, The Titanic (a disaster), A Bit Off the Mark!, Stark Raving Mark!, Overstepping the Mark, etc. Was the official South African representative at the 1996 Comedy Festival in Montreal.