Joey Rasdien is a South African comedian, writer and actor best known as a writer and performer on the SABC1 sketch comedy series Pure Monate Show, from 2003-2004. Born in Johannesburg, Rasdien grew up in Riverlee, Mayfair, Asbury, Coronationville and Eldorado Park. He attended Coronationville High school in Johannesburg and achieved a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the Rand Afrikaans University, subsequently renamed to the University of Johannesburg. After graduating he landed a job at Alexander Forbes as a financial advisor and front manager, which included high-level fund management. At the urging of his wife he quit his job in 2002 to launch a comedy career. He started making his name in comedy clubs like the Blues Room, 88, Funny Bones, Dachs, Horror Café, Cool Runnings and Tanz Café amongst others. Thereafter he began booking regular comedy gigs at the casino resorts Morula Sun and Carnival City. He then was invited to perform on 5FM’s Beach Tour early on and went on to perform at the two-week Ha–Ha Comedy Festival at the Playhouse Theatre in Durban. Rasdien’s absurd yet thought-provoking stand-up comedy show tackles the touchy subject of evolution and how natural selection has blessed many of the figures that loom over South African life. Topics under scrutiny range from the devil and Charles Darwin to Julius Malema and Steven Hawking in a show that will make you laugh until tears are rolling down your face. Joey Rasdien is the face of a new generation of South African comedy. He is instantly recognisable thanks to his appearances in movies such as Running Riot, Bunny Chow, Vaatjie Sien Sy Gat, Dollars and White Pipes, as well as the recently released Outrageous and currently shooting Blitz Patrollie. Joey has also just completed shooting his own sitcom due for transmission in October 2010 on SABC2. In addition, Rasdien has performed in many major comedy festivals in South Africa and is a regular on the comedy circuit at the country’s leading venues. He headlined the most recent Blacks Only Comedy, which played to a capacity crowd of 4,000 people, and he has become a regular performer at the popular Heavyweight Comedy Jams. He also recently starred in the popular Last Laugh at The Lyric and The Pure Monate Show on SABC1. Joey has also performed at the prestigious comedy venue Yuk Yuks in Toronto. His experience in the financial industry is an advantage when relating to a corporate audience which makes him a sought after Facilitator / entertainer at conferences. Having appeared in many television ads, including Cell C, One Life Direct, Kalahari.