Chinese crosstalk troupe Deyunshe makes African debut in Johannesburg
(ECNS) -- The Chinese comic troupe Deyunshe performed live in Johannesburg on Saturday, drawing a crowd of about 2,000 for its first-ever show in Africa. Led by celebrated crosstalk artists Guo Degang and Yu Qian, the event kicked off the group’s 2025 international tour.
The show lasted about three hours and featured multiple performances. Guo and Yu appeared on stage three times, while duos including Gao Feng and Luan Yunping, Zhang Helun and Lang Heyan, and Shaobing and Cao Heyang also performed. Blending traditional crosstalk techniques with contemporary themes, the artists kept the audience laughing and applauding throughout the night.
Guo told China News Service before the show that he hoped the audience would feel “a sense of joy from home,” adding that while people may come from different places, they share the same roots and are one family.
Li Xiaofei, a Chinese expatriate living in South Africa, rushed to the stage after the show and asked the actors to sign his phone case. He also showed a reporter his radio app, which logged more than 1,000 hours of listening to crosstalk.
Li said each live show brings new surprises. Even familiar sketches feel fresh with different rhythms, audience reactions, and moments of improvisation.
Yang Zijie and Shi Baoquan, who work in South Africa and bought tickets in advance, arrived at the venue early.
“It’s rare and heartwarming to watch a crosstalk performance overseas,” said another Chinese expatriate, adding that he often falls asleep to crosstalk recordings and found seeing a live show in person especially comforting.