Melbourne international comedy festival
Comedy Festival Tom Gleeson – “Good One” By Lisa Quittner For the tenth year in a row, one of Australia’s best comedians, Tom Gleeson returns to the stage at the 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, with a brand new show –‘Good One’. In 2011 Tom toured across Australia before returning to the invite-only Catlaughs Comedy Festival in Ireland and the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Oh, and the biggest stand up on the planet, Louis CK chose Tom to be his support act for his Australian tour. 3008Docklands spoke to Tom about his new show and being part of one of the best international comedy festivals in the world. What motivated your new show, “Good One”? The Melbourne Comedy Festival (MICF) is one of the biggest comedy festivals in the world and I live just down the road in Romsey. I’d be an idiot to not get involved. I love it. I’m a comedian. It’s the one time of year where I get to feel a little bit like a rock star. How will this show differ from your past shows at the MICF? I’ve become a father for the first time. I feel like I’ve been plugged back into life. I’m back in the game. I see my parents differently too. Not because I’m a father, but because my mum did stand up for the first time and she killed! Contrary to popular belief, comedy is a serious business. You have won the comics choice award at the MICF and have been twice nominated for a Helpmann Award, while working regularly on TV and radio, has having such great success in your career make writing and performing easier or harder, is there more pressure and expectation on you with each show? It’s definitely easier, I know people will turn up to the show. So now all I have to do is think up some ideas that I want to get out there.
The pressure is fine, I’d rather the pressure of not letting down a sold out audience than the pressure of trying to get people to turn up. I’m good under pressure, that’s why I love stand up. When I get heckled my heart rate slows down. You have performed for over 10 years consecutively, has the festival changed over years and have Melbourne audiences changed? The audiences are a lot more switched on these days. They’ve done their research, they’ve looked you up on YouTube so you can’t get away with doing tired old routines and it has to be tastier than something you could just see on TV. Audiences now have the entire history of comedy available online. Where did your earliest inspirations for becoming a comic originate from and who in the world of comedy inspires you today? I used to learn Bill Cosby bits and Monty Python sketches off by heart and recite them to my mates at boarding school. They’re an influence. Last year, I did the support slot for US stand up legend Louis CK on his Australian tour, he told me that I was good, so if that doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know what will. Good One with Tom Gleeson Showing Until: Sunday 22nd April Where: Victoria Hotel & Melbourne Town Hall Ticket Prices: From $24 - $30 Bookings: www.comedyfestival.com.au or Ticketmaster 1300 660 013 or at the door
April 2012
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