Chester Missing is going to end racism … really?

Smack-talking, double Emmy-nominated South African latex puppet Chester Missing and the guy who hangs around with him, Conrad Koch, have a new show opening this Friday.

What’s it called? How to End Racism by Chester Missing.

In it, “Chester Missing will confront his white male handler, Conrad Koch, about his own racism, his own privilege and his own journey to understanding South Africa”.

This conversation has been left for too long and in the face of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, and the inequality it will perpetuate, it cannot be ignored.Conrad Koch

Continues the description: “The truth is that racism is like bad décor. Unless you actually face it, it’s still there. In this show, Chester Missing hilariously proposes – to Conrad, so you get to judge him first – that instead of ignoring apartheid and colonialism and how they shaped us, let’s face them together, with jokes. This conversation has been left for too long and in the face of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, and the inequality it will perpetuate, it cannot be ignored. Chester Missing’s view is that the rainbow nation is something we are working towards, not a goal that we have reached.”

The show will take place digitally, with 30% of proceeds going the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation to support its anti-racism work.

I caught up with the two to find out about doing shows over the interwebz, surviving lockdown and taking on whites who still don’t get it.

Catch How to End Racism by Chester Missing at 8pm on Friday, May 29.

Tickets R75 at quicket.co.za