Joking Gun
Pat Doherty, Billy Darcy, Freddie McManus, George Pettifer, Joe Antar and Rohan Arneil are The Young Guns of Comedy, all hailing from Sydney and the Central Coast.
After huge individual successes on the Sydney Comedy Scene, these emerging talents hit the road as the Young Guns Comedy Tour this May, stopping in at the Byron Brewery on Wednesday. Patrick McKenzie chatted with Seven about being a joking gun.
What does it mean to be a young gun in comedy?
I asked Billy Darcy what we should call the tour and he blurted out, ‘Young Guns Comedy Tour. Why would we call it anything else?’ But what does it mean to be a Young Gun? A Young Gun is someone who loves performing and making people laugh.
What is the Young Guns tour all about?
Getting new comedians out of Sydney and giving them the opportunity to perform around NSW. We’re still just starting out; we’re at a point where we’ll play any venue that’ll take us.
What are the unique world views expressed by the comedians on the bill?
There are six different comedians so there are also six different perspectives and.
Why do you think people are attracted to standup comedy?
Making people laugh at the ideas and stories that you come up with. There’s just no better feeling than having a huge laugh until your stomach hurts. It’s the best drug you could possibly want.
What are the challenges for emerging comics in the industry today?
The biggest challenge faced by emerging comics today is the same that faces emerging whatevers all around the country, and that’s themselves. If you can jump over the mental hurdle of expectation, that’s when you see some great opportunities come up.
Is there anything new left to say? How do you find a unique voice and POV when social media commentators, existing standups, blogs etc seem to have everything nailed?
There is so much noise buzzing around our lives; it sometimes seems that it’d be better if people just shut up for a second.It’s always funny that people who have the most to say are always the people who should keep their mouths closed. However, I do think there are new things to say and everyone has a different opinion on a topic especially in standup. There are plenty of new things to say.
There was some controversy a while back about Ray Badran’s rape joke. What’s your take on controversial or politically incorrect material?
I can’t fully remember what he said so I can’t comment about it. Do I think you should be able to say whatever you want onstage?
Yes, I do, but should you? That’s a different story, really. If your joke is well thought out and you have a unique angle that is full of surprises.
You won’t like this question, but I have to ask it. Is there any reason why you don’t have any new women on the bill? Are there really no women who are young guns? Is comedy at the ground floor still a boys’ club?
I don’t mind this question at all. The reason there aren’t any women on this bill is that when we came up with the idea, it was Billy Darcy and me, and we discussed the idea of making a tour together. I asked Billy ‘who should come?’
Dirty Thunder Entertainment, my company that’s producing this tour, is a very equal-thinking company, with comedy rooms all over Sydney, where the bills are generally half men, half women performing. If this tour is successful, the next one will feature female acts as well, if not an all-female lineup!
What should we expect for your local shows?
A spectacular time. We have been so excited about this tour and are so keen to get to Byron to perform for everyone. We’ve got such an array of quality comedians, so you’ll have an absolute blast.
Catch the show at the Brewery from 8pm on Wednesday 9 May.
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