Could you tell us a little about your background?
I grew up in Strathmore in Melbourne. I'm the youngest of three boys. I enjoyed a normal, traditional Australian upbringing. I lived in suburbia, attended school and went to the beach in summertime.
What did you do after you left school?
I worked for an insurance company for a year and then studied teaching. I became a drama teacher and went back to my old school and taught. I taught three or four days a week and performed three or four days a week. I was sort of juggling stand-up comedy and teaching. I did that for about five years until I was getting so much stand-up work that I gave up teaching. Then the same thing happened with television and I gave up the live work. Now I do a bit of TV, a bit of live work, a bit of everything.
What inspired you?
It was probably in the blood lines - my mother and her father were performers. My mother also took us to the theatre from a very young age. I first wanted to become an actor. I think that was something that had a natural appeal to me. I remember going along to the Last Laugh (Melb. Comedy venue) and thought I might come along on amateur night and give it a bit of a go. It sort of evolved from there. I did one amateur night and then got professional work after that. I was 24 so it was 16 years ago. I've always had a leaning towards comedy but I initially didn't think about becoming a stand-up comedian. The 2nd character I did was Uncle Arthur, so he goes right back to the very start.
How personal is your comedy?
It's very personal. I go from day to day doing different things jotting down ideas. My observations, my feelings, my view on life. It's not trying to make a statement, it's not trying to change the way people think, it is just what I feel is funny.
We're all basically the same. We have the same little insecurities. The things we do from day to day happen to all of us. If you let an audience know that, they find it reassuring that somebody else thinks in a similar way. That's what comedy is about - it's all about reassurance and life itself.
Which is your favourite - TV, radio or the theatre?
Working with a live audience is the most satisfying. The feedback is direct, there's no compromise in what you're doing because there's nothing between you and the audience. It gives you energy when an audience laughs at you, they really fill you up. But I also enjoy working in a number of different areas using different skills.
Can you tell us about your cat?
She's good company. I think that animals are good in that they don't judge you and they don't play games. "What you see is what you get". I really like that. I particularly like Burmese cats because they have such distinct personality. They have different moods, they almost demand attention and I think that's fun. Tortie is really good to have around, whatever you're doing she seems to try to help or get in the way, or whatever, it can be infuriating sometimes, but she is really good company.
How do you feel about the way animals are treated?
It worries me. I don't pretend to be an expert, but it worries me. I have a particular concern about circuses, that animals are treated badly, that they're demeaned. There's the excuse that the animals enjoy performing, but I can't accept that. To me, basically, if you want to enjoy an animal, you enjoy it in it's natural habitat, you don't remove it from that and then have it here for your own indulgence. People say "Oh, we're working with dolphins and we're learning how to talk to them" and stuff but I think if you want learn how to talk to them, go out and learn where they live, don't confine them for your own experiments. Maybe I'm being naïve but it saddens me to see beautiful animals confined.
