South Africa’s most irreverent puppet and his dangerously clever handler are back. Comedy duo Conrad Koch and Chester Missing kick off their national tour of Puppet Power in Johannesburg with a four-night run at the Pieter Toerien Theatre at Montecasino from 10–13 July 2025 – and they’re bringing a fresh cast of characters, global satire, and unapologetic silliness to the stage.
From award-winning political ventriloquist Conrad Koch comes a show that’s both wildly funny and sneakily sharp. Puppet Power leans into the madness of modern times, where serious global issues are reduced to TikTok clips and memes — and where, as Koch puts it, “puppets rule supreme.”
“This show is 99% silliness with a dash of satirical truth,” says Koch. “We’re all puppets in some way — in our marriages, at work, and definitely in politics. Chester Missing is just frustrated at being kept in a suitcase. For him, Puppet Power is an idea whose time has finally come.”
Audiences can expect all-new characters alongside fan favourites such as Hilton, the ostrich who likes to party, DJ Hoodie the puppet who actually DJs, MR Dixon the high school teacher, and Gunter the German mosquito.
Joining Chester Missing are Gordon Ratsy – a celebrity chef and literal rat – and an actual talking dinosaur animated by a brave audience member. Koch’s signature social commentary is as sharp as ever, touching on topics from Elon Musk’s X obsession and global politics to life jackets on FlySafair flights and calling traffic lights “robots.”
But make no mistake: Puppet Power is first and foremost a comedy show. “People are hungry for laughter,” Koch says. “We’ve all been through so much. This show leans into joy and absurdity, with a touch of commentary for those who want it.”
The Puppet Power tour launches in Johannesburg before heading across the country, with confirmed stops including Cape Town (Observatory and Strand), Makhanda (National Arts Festival), George, Prince Albert, Noordhoek, Durban, Howick, East London, St Francis Bay, and Gqeberha, where it will play at The Marine on 3 October.
“We’re especially excited to return to Montecasino,” Koch adds. “It’s always a highlight, with an incredible audience energy.”
Even Chester had something to say: “Thank you for asking — finally! Conrad is a hack who rode my career to fame. This show is about me. I’m the funny one!”
