Chantal Jaxx Venter
edit| Chantal Jax Venter | |
|---|---|
| Chantal Jaxx Venter | |
| Pseudonym | JaxxJustice |
| Birth name | Chantal Venter |
| Born | 19 February 1988 (age 33) |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy
Television & Film |
| Nationality | South African |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Genres | Observational comedySatirical comedy
Aggressive comedy Black comedy Blue comedy |
| Spouse | Jennifer Carmen 2015 – present |
| Website | https://www.jaxxjustice.co.za/ |
Chantal Jaxx Venter (born 19 February 1988 in Springs, Gauteng) is a South African stand-up comedian. Most commonly referred to by her nickname, Jaxx (aka ‘Jaxx Justice’), she is also an actress, radio personality and voice actress. Inspired by comedians Hannah Gadsby, Russell Peters, Ellen DeGeneres, Ricky Gervais, Jimmy Carr personal style can best be described as a combination of observational, satirical and physical comedy.
Early life and education
editJaxx was born in 1988 to mother Yvonne Janine Venter and father Pieter Venter spending her childhood years in the East Rand, Johannesburg. Jaxx attended Morewag Primary School from the age of 7 (1994) to the age of 13 (2000). Ages 14 to 18 were spent at Stoffberg High School in Brakpan until she matriculated in 2006 and furthered her education at Damelin College, boasting a diploma in Contemporary Music (2007) and Photography (2008).
Career
editAfter her relocation to Cape Town whilst working as a finance manager of a well-known office automation company Jax met popular show runner Joe Emilio in Cape Town whom after an evening of conversation offered her a spot at his annual #ThatsFunny Stand-Up Comedy Showdown. Competing against 40 up and coming comedians Jax proved to be a force to be reckoned with and walked away as the golden ticket recipient on her debut performance sending her straight to the final round. The final round of this competition is where Jax cemented herself in the comedy community by claiming second place and bagging her first paid gig on the same evening. Jax was approached by fellow comedian Eugene Mathews bagging her first paid gig to where she would share a stage with the hilarious Shimmy Isaacs the following month as a fundraiser for the very important LGBTQIA+ organization The Triangle Project. She continued her trajectory by performing at South Africa's most popular underground comedy rooms and managing to rub shoulders with some of the industries finest. This was only the start to many more stages for this talented performer who by this point was dubbed as the fearless comic and one of the hardest working in the industry. The following year she was chosen to partake in the annual Premium Sports Bar Comedy Showdown and was victorious leaving with the title of Joke Slam Champion of 2016. Gigs started to flow in and Jax's career started to look very promising too which she took the leap to register for the Savannah Newcomer Showcase 2017 run by notorious John Vlismas, her application was successful and was Jax was chosen to perform to a sold-out audience at the Soweto theatre. This year (2017) would be a jam-packed year of achievements for Jax, from becoming the resident MC of the infamous Pride march in Cape Town, launching her debut two-man show Jax & Gina @ Fringe Festival to opening for the comedy giant Barry Hilton. Becoming a trusted name in the industry she was approached by franchise moguls to produce comedy evenings at their restaurants and soon became the national comedy show producer at the ever-popular Tiger's Milk chain. To date Jax has opened for comic greats such as Barry Hilton, Schalk Bezuidenhout, John Vlismas , Casper De Vries and Tumi Morake.
She proceeds to level up on every stage she grazed with her “straight”-up, witty and satirical stand-up comedy leaving the audience with a refreshing take on everyday situations.
Live shows
editJax has not been short of stages over her young 6-year career in stand-up comedy, sharing stages with some of the best in the business is a privilege not afforded to many young comedians. She has been performed with the likes of John Vlismas, Casper De Vries, Riaad Moosa, Loyiso Gola, Nina Hastie, Schalk Bezuidenhout, Jason Goliath, Nicholas Goliath, Mel Jones, Tumi Morake, Dave Levinsohn, Kurt Schoonraad, Chris Forrest, Conrad Koch & Chester Missing, Carvin Goldstone and many more...
Television
editOther than comedy, Jax has also featured on numerous television shows such as Savannah Newcomer Showcase '17 and Dan Nichol Show '19 and TV game show SABC 2 Beter as die Bure '20. Most recently Jax partook on TV show Aflos Kombuis and Liefdes Eksperiment. She has also guested The Expresso Show.
2020 also presented a great opportunity for Jax as she was part of the comedy legend Casper De Vries's new KykNet production Cas Oppie Kassie.
Film
editJax being a lover of all art forms and her passionate stance for the LGBTQIA+ community took an unexpected endeavor with five fellow artists that would soon send shock waves through South Africa. Diving into a space of performance synonymous with male performers these young womxn created a space for female masculinity to exist by creating awareness around the art of "Drag Kings". Documenting their journey as Bros B4 Ho's alongside the late filmmaker Samantha Lea which unexpectedly was featured in Nu Metro cinemas nationally with a roaring success on box office sales. Jax cemented herself into the drag community under the persona Cory Lingus, a combination of her favorite vocalist and Slipknot front man Cory Taylor and the act of Cunnilingus.
Bros B4 Ho's Synopsis
editWhen most people hear the word “Drag King” they assume that you must mean “Drag Queen”- that is how little is known about Drag Kings. Whilst it seems obvious, the notion that women can do the same thing is often surprising. Fresh from first-time filmmaker Samantha Lea comes an intimate and revealing look into the lives of 6 extraordinary women, as they write themselves into the history books as South Africa’s first ever Drag King troupe. The film takes the viewer on a journey through the landscape of female masculinity in a way that has never been done before, and shows just how malleable and impermanent gender really is. Through their performances, BROS B4 HO’S explore their identity in a way that leaves them feeling inspired and empowered. Each from different backgrounds and choosing to do drag for different reasons, the women cement their bond through rehearsing and preparing for their first big sold-out debut show. In the end the troupe becomes like a family for them, as they leave a legacy that the LGTBQIA+ community- and Drag Kings for years to come- can be proud of.
Radio
editJax has been frequently featured on local and national FM radio stations, her love for radio personality Roger Goode became a routine morning conversation with the team in 2015 which led to her becoming a friend of the show being frequently featured as Juicy Jax. Being a part of the team running and promoting Khayelitsha Fire fund shows in aid to relieve victims who have lost their homes she was featured on the Thando Tabooty show and won the joke off segment called drier than Duran.
She has been a in studio guest on the 'Happy Hour' aired by Good Hope FM with fellow comedians Carl Weber and SAMA award winning sports presenter Dalin Oliver as well as being a frequent guest on Smile FM drive time show with Angel Campey and Maurice Capede.
Jax is a recent addition to Actonville FM family as the lead anchor for the afternoon show.
Festivals
editJax gravitated towards doing festivals over her career highlighting her adoration for all art forms and drawing inspiration from other performers by being in the same artistic spaces. Launching her debut two-man show Jax & Gina @ Fringe Festival in 2017 with fellow performer Eugene Mathews gave her the opportunity to sit in on many other productions and learn the art of theatre and the many facets that go into successfully putting together a well-attended production. Shortly after that Jax was approached by PRIDE organization board member Matthew Van As to become a resident MC for the annual Cape Town PRIDE march. Jax as a active member of the LGBTQIA+ community spent 3 years (2018 - 2020) entertaining patrons to this prestigious event, since her presence at this event Health for Men testing stations have declared a 15 - 20% increase in HIV testing. She has performed at the well-attended Bazique Festival (2019) as well as the Cape Town Tequila Festival (2020). In 2019 she performed at the popular Capitol Craft Beer Festival where she met and shared a stage with her idol and iconic South African comedian Casper De Vries also boating the opportunity to perform with South Africa's finest Loyiso Gola, Schalk Bezuidenhout and Joey Rasdien, in that same year she took her debut one womxn show "Oh My GAD" to the Durban Heat Comedy Festival shortly after Jax started her 2020 on a high note by selling out that very same show at the Baxter Theatre - Golden Arrow Theatre as featured Mother City Comedy Festival just before COVID-19 reached the South African shores..
Awards
editIn July 2015 Jax made her debut performance at the #ThatsFunny Stand-Up Comedy Showdown and managed to bag the golden ticket taking her straight to the finals out of 40 competitors and ended with the second-place reward on her final performance. A mere year after that she was invited to partake in in the annual Premium Sports Bar Comedy Competition and was crowned the Joke Slam Champion of 2016 to a sold-out audience. In 2017 a popular LGBTQIA+ club invited Jax to compete in their entertainment competition and without any doubt she was once again the recipient of the first place at the Beaulah Winter Warm Up: Comedy Competition. The aforementioned accolades came with no room for error as she continued to excel and was privileged enough to receive a nomination at the largest comedy festival in African, Jax was a nominee at the 9th Annual Savanna Comedy Choice Awards in the category of Audience Choice.
Personal life
editAn active member of the LGBTQIA+ community Jax has been an avid part of fighting for the rights and equality of a previously disadvantaged group of individuals, putting together fundraisers and contributing time to institutions who offer support to struggling youths who fall victim to prejudice from family, friends and society. Jax also being a staunch activist for feminism standing against Gender Based Violence and Femicide in South Africa takes part in many events that fund these movements as well as being contributing funds from performances to crisis centers in aid of abuse victims.
After a relocation in 2021 she presently resides in Boksburg, South Africa with her partner
| Solo Shows | Year | Note |
| Think Before You Speak | 2021 | The Raptor Room |
| Jaxx of All Trades | 2016 | Roxy Revue Bar Theatre |
| You've Been Served | 2016 | Online Show |
| Line-up | Manila Von Teez, Nicola Date, Eugene Mathews, Tracy Klass, Robyn Dunlop | |
| Think Before You Speak | 2016 | Hidden Leaf |
| Transparent | 2015 | Online Show |
| Oh My GAD | 2015 | Baxter Theatre |
| Oh My GAD | 2015 | Seabrooke Theatre |
| Performance Highlights | Year | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Hilton & Friends | 2021 | Support Act | |
| Barry Hilton & Friends | 2021 | Support Act | |
| Barry Hilton & Friends | 2021 | Host | |
| Back Tumi Emperors Palace | 2021 | Opening Act for Tumi Morake | |
| Tiger's Milk Lynnwood | 2019 | Host to Casper De Vries | |
| Mother City Comedy Festival | 2019 | Opening Act for Carl Weber | |
| Die Boer | 2018 | Opening Act to Schalk Bezuidenhout | |
| Samoka Comedy | 2018 | Opening Act to HBO's Dan Frigolette | |
| A GAME Comedy | 2017 | Opening Act for Barry Hilton | |
| The Good Racist | 2017 | Opening Act for John Vlismas | |
| Triangle Project Fundraiser | 2015 | Support Act with Shimmy Isaacs |
| TV | Year | Note |
| Via Liefdes Eksperiment | 2021 | Contestant |
| Via Aflos Kombuis | 2021 | Contestant with Sophie Joans & Arlene Peterse |
| The Expresso Show | 2020 | Talk Show Guest with Nicola Date & Mel Jones |
| SABC 2 Beter as die Bure | 2020 | Contestant with Kraai du Toit & Jaryd Pillay |
| Cas Oppie Kassie - Die Laager | 2020 | Character Sam Mooza |
| Cast | Arno Greeff, Schalk Bezuidenhout, Chantal Jax Venter, Alfred Adriaan, Gugu Madlabane, Mila Guy, De Klerk Oelofse en Heidi Mollentze | |
| Dan Nichol Show '19 | 2019 | Stand Up Comedy |
| Savannah Newcomer Showcase '17 | 2017 | Stand Up Comedy |
| Film | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BROS B4 HO'S | 2013 | Biopic, Comedy, Documentary, LGBTQI as Cory Lingus |
| Cast | Catherine Saint Jude Pretorius, Marchane' Janeke, Frankie Rose, Bianca Clarke, Sinead Johnson, Chantal Venter |
| Radio | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Star FM | 2021 | Talk Show Guest with Mark Mdluli |
| Whine o'clock Smile FM | 2021 | Feature Guest with Angel Capey and Maurice Capede |
| Whine o'clock Smile FM | 2020 | Feature Guest with Angel Capey and Maurice Capede |
| 5FM Roger Goode Show | 2019 | Talk Show Guest with Roger Goode, DJ Cosmo, Sureshni Rider and Robbie |
| Good Hope FM' s Happy Hour | 2019 | Talk Show Guest with Walene Beukes, Carl Weber and Dalin Oliver |
| RSG Martelize Brink | 2019 | Talk Show Guest with Ismail Moses |
| Radio 2000 Phat Joe | 2019 | Talk Show Guest |
| Frequent guest on Good Hope FM' s Happy Hour | 2018 | Talk Show Guest with KG Mokgadi, Carl Weber and Dalin Oliver |
| Thando Thabooty Show | 2018 | Winner of Drier Than Duran |
| Festivals | Year | Note |
| Cape Town Tequila Festival | 2020 | MC and Stage Manager |
| Cape Town Pride Festival | 2020 | MC and Stage Manager |
| Mother City Comedy Festival | 2020 | Sold Out One Womxn Show |
| Durban Heat City Comedy Festival | 2019 | Debut One Womxn Show |
| Capital Craft Beer Festival | 2019 | Stand Up Comedy with Casper De Vries, Schalk Bezuidenhout, Joey Rasdien, Robby Collins |
| Bazique Festival | 2019 | Stand Up Comedy with Angel Campey, Kurt Langeveld, Phil De Lange, Dylan Skews, Jaryd Pillay0 |
| Cape Town Pride Festival | 2019 | MC and Stage Manager |
| Cape Town Pride Festival | 2018 | MC and Stage Manager |
| Awards | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 9th Annual Savanna Comedy Choice Awards | 2019 | Audience Choice Award Nominee |
| Beaulah Winter Warm Up Comedy Competition | 2017 | First Place Winner |
| Premium Sports Bar Joke Slam Showdown | 2016 | Joke Slam Champion |
| #That'sFunny Stand Up Comedy Showdown | 2015 | Second place winner on debut performance |
References
edit- https://stayhappening.com/e/think-before-you-speak-comedy-special-E2ISTLFIL4Wv
- https://happeningnext.com/event/chantal-jax-in-jaxx-of-all-trades-at-artsunite-eid3a07rnnfop
- https://www.quicket.co.za/events/129822-youve-been-served-rant-roast/
- http://www.findglocal.com/ZA/Woodstock/192008514473946/Dallas-Cowboys-Fans
- https://unfolddurban.co.za/2019/09/30/interview-with-funny-jax-justice/
- https://getitmagazine.co.za/ballito-umhlanga/blog/2019/07/23/third-annual-heat-city-comedy-festival-returns-to-durban/
- https://artsvark.co.za/the-mother-city-comedy-festival-is-back-bigger-and-better-than-ever/
- https://www.glartent.com/XX/Unknown/117548765643777/Jax-%26-Gina
- https://www.news24.com/channel/The-Juice/News/all-the-nominees-for-the-2019-savanna-comics-choice-awards-20190710
- https://kyknet.dstv.com/nuus/casper-en-kie-is-terug-na-n-dekade-op-kyknet
- http://www.samdb.co.za/blogs/blog/2020/03/25/two-kyknet-comedies-in-april/
- https://brakpanherald.co.za/176186/in-the-spotlight-56/
- https://www.facebook.com/JaxxJustice/posts/the-huisgenoot-was-a-weekly-family-member-to-our-household-as-a-childi-was-alway/2530421193840235/
- https://issuu.com/tygerburger/docs/tygerburgertd_20161019
- http://www.maristsj.co.za/2020/03/12/day-2-chantal-jax-venter/
- http://cliffcentral.com/justnow-comedy/the-justnow-comedy-podcast-in-3-years-time/
- https://www.capetownmagazine.com/freedom-day-comedy-night
- https://sarafinamagazine.com/2018/08/29/a-conversation-with-kate-pinchuck/
- https://www.southernmail.co.za/entertainment/aiming-for-the-stars
- https://mg.co.za/article/2017-11-10-00-self-care-through-the-art-of-drag/
- https://leafrinique.co.za/packed-cape-town-fringe-festival-programme-awaits/
- https://queerlife.co.za/all-the-buzz-on-cape-town-pride-festival-2019/
- https://www.gaysaradio.co.za/cape-town-pride-is-here/
- https://numetro.co.za/movie/2966/
- https://thebutchlife.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/debut-of-cape-towns-first-drag-king-troupe/