Comics' Corner - August 2019
SHOWCASING TOP END COMICS AND LOCAL STAND-UP PERFORMERS
By Will Crawford
It’s August. After work beers, Hanuman curries and wood fired pizzas in the bamboo food village at Festival Park beckon like sirens on the clifftops. If that wasn’t enough, Darwin Festival’s Artistic Director, Felix Preval, and his merry team of Festival elves have procured an irresistible line up of Australia’s hottest comedians.
My tip is Tom Gleeson. When he’s not sabotaging the Logies, he’s delivering some of the funniest stand-up Australia has ever heard. His recent One Night Stand special is – in my opinion – the most original and joyfully probing stand-up comedy any Australian stand-up comic has ever produced. While famous for his cheeky one-liners on Hard Chat and Hard Quiz, his outstanding ability to entice you down the delightfully winding paths of his strange imagination is unparalleled. It’s no surprise then that both of his shows have sold out!
Another genuine talent to catch is Nazeem Hussain. Better known for his phenomenal character comedy on Fear of a Brown Planet, Legally Brown and Orange is the New Brown, Hussain is a dangerous storyteller in a good way. His tales are embedded with sharp political observations, caustic one-liners and killer character pieces, all underpinned with a warmth and humility that will see him go onto great things on the international stage.
My tip for dark horse is Damien Power. A chronically underrated comedian, Power was previously known as Indy Car driver Will Power’s brother – but he’s emerged in his own right as one of the sharpest comedians on the festival circuit. His wit is Joan Rivers-esque, his dress sense Ron Burgundy-style, and his observations are purely original. One to watch.
Darwin Festival has also managed to snare perennial favourites Cal Wilson and Wil Anderson, as well as Dane Simpson and Matt Ford in their much-anticipated Aborigi-LOL. Don’t forget to catch some hilarious over-sharing with local comedian Amy Hetherington, her wonderful show laced with Territory Pride – and a bit of Territory shame-job!
Nazeem Hussain – Basic Idiot Fri 9 & Sat 10 Aug | 7pm | The Lighthouse | $34-$38 | darwinfestival.org.au
Damien Power – Man Puts His Dreams In A Sock Tue 13 Aug, 8.45pm | The Lighthouse | $34-$38 | darwinfestival.org.au
Cal Wilson – Gifted Underachiever Wed 14 Aug,, 8.45pm | The Lighthouse | $34-$38 | darwinfestival.org.au
Aborigi-LOL Sun 18 Aug, 7pm | The Lighthouse | $34-$38 | darwinfestival.org.au
Will Crawford is an up-and-crawling comic. He moonlights as a land rights lawyer and policy activist.
