Goliath & Goliath (G&G) may not all be related by blood but, together, the group is changing the local comedy landscape with their unique blend of humour, heart and hustle.
Not everyone with the gift of being funny has the ability to make someone laugh until their stomach hurts. Being able to bring people so much joy and comedic relief is truly a superpower. Meet the Goliaths: Jason, his sister Kate and their cousin Nicholas share more than just a surname — they share a love for laughter and uplifting content. Donovan, despite his last name (also Goliath), isn’t related by blood, but he’s been a vital part of the Goliath comedy empire since they all became one unit in 2011. Today, they make up G&G, a family business bonded by dynamic chemistry and a fresh take on comedy that makes them stand out in the local entertainment scene.
Everybody I grew up with was funny… Finding joy in people laugh is something i think we’ve always just had in us
More than just a name
Growing up in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, Jason, Kate and Nicholas spent most of their time with family and friends in a close-knit environment. Family was always something that was important to them.
“I sometimes think the reason we spent so much time together was to laugh,” says Nicholas. “Everybody I grew up with was funny… finding joy in making people laugh is something I think we’ve always just had in us.”
Jason and Nicholas started doing stand-up comedy in 2011 at The Underground in Melville. They met Donovan (from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape) a week later, who was new on the comedy scene. Everything began to align, and the rest is history in the making.
Sister Kate Goliath initially hoped to pursue journalism as a career path. However, her mom advised her to find a different dream that would be more fulfilling than sitting at a desk every day “covering terrible news all the time and being broke”, as she puts it.
She entered the corporate world, taking on communications and public relations for three years. She’s now been the managing director of G&G for 13 years, overseeing their many accounts, content production for various clients, and keeping things organised when it comes to the guys and all their individual and group projects.
“Covid really changed a lot of things in terms of ‘us’ and what we do in the comedy industry, and within the entertainment industry as a whole… In a way it helped us break into new territories, which I think it did for a lot of people, but it really solidified where we wanted to go with our creativity” she said on a recent episode of ‘The Almost Perfect Podcast’.
Better together
Now, each member of G&G is known for different talents. Jason (happily married to Sian for six years), the big brother of the group, is a well-known stand-up comedian (think Showmax’s Manstruation: Surviving a Wife), MC, facilitator, actor, contestant on The Masked Singer SA and Strictly Come Dancing, and TV host (Dating #NoFilter, Celebrity Game Night SA) who is loved for his exuberant demeanour and contagious enthusiasm. He previously worked in the insurance, marketing and sales industries, but followed his passion and soon became one of SA’s most sought-after funny guys.
“My motivation has been the thank-yous after the shows — and not forgetting the laughs on audiences’ faces… Every laugh feeds me more: he says. “Whether ifs the security guard at the boom gate, a formal environment or the person behind me in the supermarket queue, a laugh is a great plaster to my soul. I curate my stories so that they have relatable messaging and messages that, in some way, shape or form, will impact someone”.
Nicholas is a loving father, husband to Yasaar (for 20 years), and the youngest of the group. Known for his hilarious jokes and pranks, acting, voiceover artistry and stand-up shows, he is also a sought-after MC having worked on conferences with Vodacom, FNB, Liberty and Nissan — just to name a few.
And then there’s Donovan, married to Davina (for four years) and father of two. He’s an MC, creative director, producer, content creator — and arguably the most photogenic of the bunch! He has been focused on being more actively involved as a designer and collaborative force to change the narrative of advertising and creativity in SA. However, his proudest achievement is being a dad.
It’s given me a stronger sense of purpose and something real to work towards. Being in the industry were in, you’re constantly out and about juggling so many things. I’ve learned to say no a lot more because it is no longer about me, ifs about us,” he says. It’s something that can’t be explained until you have your own kid. It changes your perspective completely’
Building their brand
G&G’s expansion and ambition are limitless, but they always keep the well-being of South Africa’s comedy scene in mind.
Their biggest venture to date? Launching The Goliath Comedy Club in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, in 2016. With this club, they revived the local comedy scene and brought it to the heart of the city, offering a platform for both established and up-and-coming comedians. It quickly became a go-to spot for comedy lovers, drawing in crowds who craved live entertainment with a homegrown touch.
The club was the result of a culmination of many small gigs we had put together over the years. We had quite a bit of skin in the game and had built up enough trust for decision-makers at Melrose Arch to offer the space up to us,” says Donovan.
It ran for three years and was easily the best comedy club on the continent at the time,” Nicholas continues. But we don’t see comedy as a competition — we create markets for one another,” Jason adds.
The success of their Melrose Arch club gave rise to an intimate comedy venue in Braamfontein, in the basement of The Bannister Hotel (no longer operational). Here, G&G offered a more up-close-and-personal experience, allowing audiences to feel like they’re part of the family.
Happiness and joy
G&G aren’t just here for the laughs; they’re also using their platform for a cause close to their hearts. As high-level influencers for the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s LuQuLuQu campaign, they’re on a mission to bring awareness to forcibly displaced families and raise funds to help them rebuild their lives. Whether through live shows, campaigns or personal outreach, the Goliaths are committed to making a difference.
As part of their mission to spread positivity, they launched ‘The Happiness Economy Podcast’ in 2024 and a comedy tour. This project is all about getting people to self-reflect and be honest with themselves.
As Jason says, “It’s where we try and unpack, figure out, investigate, interrogate — I think holistically understand — ‘what is happiness even?'”
We don’t see comedy as a competition — we create markets for one another
Nicholas adds that it “is a project we’ve been working on to try and get people to think more about their own happiness and where it truly lies. It’s something that we hope will create a community of positivity, where stories of encouragement and joy are shared and celebrated.”
Their podcast features guests from all walks of life who discuss how they navigate their own happiness, while the tour brings those ideas to the stage in typical Goliath fashion — through gut-busting humour and heartfelt moments.
From their comedy clubs to their social impact work, the Goliaths remind us that humour, joy and generosity are at the heart of everything they do. And so, whether you’re enjoying a good laugh at one of their shows or tuning in to their podcast, G&G invite you to embrace joy and happiness with an open heart.
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Fast facts
- Goliath and Goliath have taken home ‘Best Friends of Comedy’ each of the three times the award has been handed out at the Savannah Comics’ Choice Awards.
- What brings them joy? Laughter, providing for those in need, and simple, priceless moments with friends and family around the braai.
- When asked who the funniest is (which is a common question), they agree that the funniest is actually their manager, Kate.
- Biggest pet peeve: Rudeness, and when people talk about or mess with their loved ones.
- One word that describes them all: Ambitious.
Follow Them
Instagram: @goliathandgoliath
Facebook: Goliath and Goliath
TikTok: @nicholasgoliath / @donovangoliath / @jasongoliath
YouTube: @happinesseconomypod
Website: goliathandgoliath.com
By: Charndré Emma Kippie
Photography by: Supplied
Text courtesy of Club X magazine
