From a constable detective to a rising comedy star! Many of us know and love ‘Antie Katriena’, but the spotlight also needs to shine on the alter-ego character’s creator—former cop Warren Louw and his inspiring story of ‘seeing opportunity’ when times looked hopeless:
South Africa (25 April 2024) — You’d be forgiven for wondering how one goes from a former SAPS detective constable stationed in Hondeklipbaai in the Northern Cape to a rising comedy star making the internet laugh. For Warren Louw, the answer lies in ‘seeing the opportunity’ to follow your dreams.
When the Covid-19 lockdown had “everyone sitting at home on their phones”, former policeman Warren saw the chance to provide entertainment, and what would eventually become the beginning of his journey as a comedy star thanks to his alter-ego character ‘Antie Katriena”.
In 2019, Warren resigned from his job and decided to move to Cape town to further pursue his dream of an acting career. He’d secured an agent, was attending castings and auditions and had just begun living out what he had always wanted to do, until lockdown put things on hold and sent him home to Namaqualand.
Stuck at home in Fonteintjie outside Springbok, Warren realised that social media could be his golden ticket. This was where Antie Katriena started to steal the spotlight!
Warren began posting his characters straight-talking and humorous commentaries on life, as well as the doings of her wayward son Waarhen.
He gained a 70,000 strong Facebook following during lockdown, which has only grown since then. In amazing news for the comedy star, when gatherings were allowed again, the local municipality booked him to MC an event!
“It was my first paid job, and I realised I could make a living out of this,” said Warren.
Fast forward to many more bookings, festivals, radio shows, national television, weddings and even as the prime choice of character to celebrate newborn babies; Antie Katriena has become Namaqualand’s favourite auntie.
Today, Warren now has his own business where he is able to employ part time workers. His dreams today are now to establish a drama school and theatre to get the youth of Namaqualand off the streets and into developing a passion for the performing arts.
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He has also recently graduated as one of the top 3 students in the Small Business Academy (SBA) of Stellenbosch Business School—an initiative to empower small business owners in low-income communities with education and ongoing mentorship as fully sponsored by the university’s business school.
His advice to fellow would-be entrepreneurs? “If you’re struggling, remember your ‘why’. and don’t start your own business for money but for the love of your work.”
Sources: Supplied—Linda Christensen
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