Sean Murphy Ghost Jam!
Tell us about your show. Ghost Jam! packs the world’s best ghost tales into an hour of whirlwind action for adults and kids ages five to 12. The show stars me and the amazing drummer Sophie Unsen as we combine silly, spooky storytelling with booming live music. When was the idea for the show born? I went to school for a year in Tokyo and was struck by the rich folklore that we in the West don’t see beyond the stereotypes of sushi, samurai and Super Mario. I came back to Australia wanting to share the stories I’d learned, but no idea where to begin. Years later I met Sophie who is amazing on Japanese drums or ‘taiko’ and the show quickly came together. What does your show teach the audience? The audience will experience classic Japanese ghost stories with a comedic twist. At the same time, they’ll be introduced to a huge variety of instrumentation that Sophie uses to create a live soundtrack. Does your show have any audience participation? Heaps, but for kids only. Adults are invited to sit back, relax and take in the horror and hilarity as it unfolds. Who are you looking forward to seeing this year at the festival? I’m a huge fan of Barnie Duncan’s Juan Vesuvius shows about a Venezuelan DJ who wants to share rum, rhythm and absolutely ridiculous clowning with the world. He’s doing a new show called Weekend at Barnie’s.
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Dilruk Jayasinha The Art Of The Dil
Venue: Melbourne Town Hall – Cloak Room Dates: Thursday April 6 & Friday April 7 Duration: 55 minutes Tickets: $14 - $20
How does show differ or follow on from last year’s Sri Wanka? Last year was chockful of embarrassing stories about my continual struggle with obesity. This year I’m talking about how having a Buddhist dad and a Muslim mum who sent me to a Catholic school, influenced my worldview. What inspired you to get into comedy? Watching Eddie Murphy’s Delirious at age 11 was the first spark. My first ever live comedy show was Wil Anderson in 2006 and the electricity he created in the room started my obsession. Your comedy has a timeless feel to it. Is this something you aim for? It wasn’t something I set out to do, I just didn’t have an interest in writing topical jokes. I enjoy telling people stories from my life that revolve around relatable subjects like relationships, body issues and shitting my pants. What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learnt from a comedian? I used to not care about how I presented myself and wore whatever crushed t-shirts I found bundled on the floor. But once while still on stage Adam Richard yelled at me “Stop wearing clothes that expose your rancid gut.” Since then I dress as respectful and considerately as possible. If someone’s never seen your comedy before, what are they in store for? It’s an hour of commentary on the fear based intolerance of various groups in society, told through brutally honest, embarrassing stories from my life as a Sri Lankan who immigrated to Australia as a teenager in 2004.
Highlander Comedy Showcase
Sam Simmons A-K
Tell us about your show. Comedy Showcase at Highlander is a delightful sampler. International, interstate and local acts will give audiences a taste of their main show. It’s a great way to get a Melbourne International Comedy Festival experience for free and get an idea of what’s out there. The idea for the show was born when? acts wanted to give away a cheeky taste of their schtick. There’s so much diversity and audiences deserve the option to shop around. Comedy Showcase at Highlander is a one stop shop. Can you describe the journey of creating a show? When people finish work they should be able to walk straight into a show and start unwinding. I wanted it to be low risk for the audience; lots of variety, it’s a better option than sitting in rush hour traffic and it’s free. I also wanted something that was fast paced, that gave acts a chance to really sell their act. Describe your show in three words. Bite sized bliss. What inspires you about MICF? The genuine enthusiasms a wide diversity of acts bring to Melbourne. Sometimes audiences are not always able to get a true idea of their options. Comedy Showcase at Highlander gives audiences an intense tease that hopefully makes that enthusiasm contagious.
How does working as a comic overseas compare to working in Australia? There’s a lot more opportunity overseas for someone like me. I’ll still come back to Australia every year, and I still love performing in Australia. There’s only a few places in Australia, like the ABC or Stan, where you’re really able to work on comedy – and even then, it can be really hard. What have you been working on the past year? Right now, I’m working on two different projects – one is for BBC4 in the UK, and the other is for FX in the States. Nothing’s been green-lit yet, but we want to have something to show them. How does your absurdist style of comedy translate to audiences across the globe? I get the feeling that people seem to think I’m some sort of anti-stand-up. Some people just think it’s all bread shoes and getting my cock out – just walking around with a crumpet on my head going, ‘Ner-ner!’ The reality is that I just like the more creative side of performance – I like weighing in on that element more than most. Which comedians do you look towards for inspiration? I have so much respect for the art of stand-up comedy. My favourite comedians areBill Burr, Tom Gleeson, Judith Lucy, all just people that are naturally funny. I just approach it differently. I’ve been told that I’m too weird and too niche my entire career. Maybe they’re right, but I’m so glad I stuck to my guns.
BEAT.COM.AU
Venue: Highlander
Dates: Wednesday March 29 – Friday March 31 & Monday April 3, 10, 17 Tickets: Free
BEAT’S GUIDE TO THE 2017 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL PROUDLY PRESENTED BY THATCHERS ENGLISH CIDER
Venue: Greek Centre Mykonos Dates: Thursday March 30 – Sunday April 23 (bar Monday to Wednesday) Duration: 60 minutes Tickets: $24 - $29
Venue: Forum Theatre Upstairs Dates: Thursday March 30 -Sunday April 23 (bar Mondays) Duration: 60 minutes Tickets: $27 - $39