Darren Maule
This is Darren Maule…whether he is on a beach battling the elements, playing a serious role in a television series, MC’ing a black tie event, chairing a gameshow or standing in front of an audience in a smoky room and making them laugh until their sides are sore…Darren Maule is the consummate performer – equally comfortable in front of a microphone, a camera or a live audience.
Darren has been a familiar name and face on the South African entertainment circuit for over 16 years. As well as being one of South Africa’s top stand-up comedians, he has starred in award winning television series’ as well as numerous advertisements both locally and internationally. Television viewers have seen Darren most recently on a Survivor island. You may also remember him from Play TV, Hard Copy, Out of the Box or his sit-com Font.
He is also an accomplished stage actor with his latest success in 2010 as one of the leads in the Tim Plewman farce “Grin and Bare it”.
Prior to 2006, Darren did stand -up comedy (specializing in physical comedy) as one half of the comedy duo – the House Boys (Joe Parker’s Comedy Express Vol 1). Some of the venues they played were Cool Runnings (Melville), Hysterix, The Funny Farm, Comedy Warehouse, Cheyenne Saloon (The Carousel), Supersport Bar (Carnival City), The Lyric (Gold Reef City), Six Shooters (Emperor’s Palace) as well as comedy clubs all around South Africa.
Darren is one of South Africa’s most versatile entertainers – his winning combination of intelligent repartee, engaging manner and ability to win over an audience make him a popular choice and appropriate host for any occasion. You name it he can do it – from stand-up comedy to MC work and acting.
Darren Maule is a South African actor and stand-up comedian best known for his role as Grant Fletcher on the SABC3 drama series Hard Copy, and for hosting the SABC3 game show Out of the Box. He also hosted the daytime game show Play TV on SABC3, from 2003-2005. After 10 years of specialising in physical comedy, he shifted his focus to stand-up and in a few short years he’s established himself as a top South African comic.
Darren Maule is a first generation South African but of Scottish-French decent. Yup, he is a real Jacobite!
Like his descendants from the 18th century, nothing about Darren’s life is in any way normal, mundane or mainstream.
In the beginning… Darren was born and schooled in Jo’burg and Potchefstroom and has resided in Pretoria, Babelegi, Malelane, Nelspruit and Krugersdorp. His alternative styled career started after his 3 years formal training at Pretoria Technikon. He jump-started his career soon after graduation.
The movie chronicles the adventures of an intrepid reporter Jack, who is charged with getting pictures of Carla la Reservee, after she wins the annual FHM 100 Sexiest competition.
In 2007 he was cast as the lead role in the sitcom FONT, which premieres on SABC3 on 11 October.
In 2006 he played the role of Jack in the corporate made-for-TV movie FHM Sexiest Woman in the World 2006, which aired on M-Net.
Almost immediately after leaving the technikon, he joined a live daily soap drama for Radio Punt called “Seepbel”. This would prove to be one of the least off-beat endeavours he would find himself involved with.
He then got involved with the shady world of stand-up comedy as comic, emcee and a very successful comedy duo mime act called “The House Boys”. Shortly thereafter followed improvised comedy. Both in which he is still actively involved and to date is still found giving comedy workshops to anyone who will listen.
Another ground-breaking achievement is when he became the voice of “Cassie Fenwick” (a real-time live interactive animated character). After 5 years of Cassie emcee work countrywide “Cassie”/Darren made history by hosting the 1st talk show live with an animated character, “Cassie Live” on SABC 3.
“Cassie” seems to have made it to the archives of the Trivial Pursuit board-game… Darren will have to wait a bit longer. He is not bitter though, their partnership toured worldwide, the highlights being Prague, Czech Republic and New York City, twice!
Intermittently Darren has always been a working actor, never one to keep still (that damn Gemini blood), he has also been involved countrywide in countless educational theatre and industrial theatre productions.
Darren has turned his attention back to television and after a year of “Play TV” on SABC 3 (2 hours a day, 4 to 6 times a week, live) he is now involved in a weekly character driven series soon to be on late night SABC 3. He’s also talking about an alternative talk show in an even later time-slot.