TOMMY LITTLE
The rascal that is Tommy Little returns to Darwin with his new show I’m Not Proud, offering audiences an hour of giggles at his own misfortunes. Which are plentiful. With cheeky irreverence, charm and sharp wit, Little’s climbed the ranks to become one of Australia’s most loved comedians.
Tierney White caught up with him for a chinwag about stuffing up and how much he crushes on Darwin.
Tommy! Thanks for the chat. Tell us about your new show I’m Not Proud?
It’s just about all the things I’ve stuffed up in life! I spent years talking about things that I tried to achieve – like getting my pilot’s license or climbing mountains or swimming from one country to another – and in the end … I didn’t really achieve the things. And I realised no one wants to hear about my successes, so this is just a chance to bask in my failures and laugh at me.
Yeah, well, I’m guessing there’s no shortage of material then, Tommy?
There’s heaps of failures. [Laughs] I’m so useless at life. So, I mean, if I didn’t succeed at comedy, I’d be turning tricks on street corners, so the one thing I can do is kind of working out at the moment.
Well, good. I’m glad you’ve got something going on for ya [laughs]. [Laughs] Something!
And of course, you were in town with Tommy Little Has a Regular Size Deck last year, now we have I’m Not Proud – suffice to say your comedy takes the p-ss out of your own self, which makes you relatable to a lot of us. Do you go through a little self-discovery process for your shows?
It’s cathartic. I mean, I don’t know if I go through a self-discovery process, but it certainly makes me feel better. Like, if you have as many stuff ups in this life as I do, the one good thing you can get out of it is seeing it bring joy to other people.
So, I think everyone has their stuff going on in their own lives, and comedy’s a great chance for people to kind of escape their own lives for a second, and look at my chaos, and go, “well, God, at least we’re not him!”
[Laughs] Yeah, it could be worse! Yeah!
And you turned 40 this year – happy birthday to you, sir.
Thank you very much!
You’re welcome! Any revelations?
Ah, just that I’m too old to be doing what I’m doing. I’m still partying like I was 20, and it’s gotten kind of [laughs] just a bit lame, or something? Like all my friends have moved on, had kids, and I’m wondering why no-one wants to go to the pub on a Wednesday night?
[Laughs] I hear you mate, I hear you!
[Laughs] Yeah!
And so, you’re a regular here in Darwin, and we love you for it. How do you feel about coming back?
Can’t wait. Can’t wait. I absolutely love it there, it feels like this, kind of, little oasis. I don’t think enough people in Australia know how cool it is there, and I’m quite happy for it, and I’m sure you’re quite happy for it, to stay that way. It’s not, you know, overrun with tourists and it’s one of the coolest places in the country, so I absolutely love getting to go there.
Yes, well, I think the whole crocodile in the ocean thing keeps the population in check, without always being able to swim all the time. So we lose a few people, for goodness sake, we gotta keep tourist numbers down! [Laughs]
Exactly, exactly. And last time you were here you mentioned the tiny beers, which I hadn’t heard of. Did you get a few into you last time, and are you planning on downing a couple while you’re in town? Every time I go to Darwin, I have tiny beers. I have tiny beers, and then I have a laksa at the markets, and I still – the laksa at the markets, it’s wonderful – but it makes me sweat out of every pore in my body. And, I’m not sure, is that what’s meant to happen? I assumed after a while I’d get used to it or something, but no, no!
Nah, I don’t think you get used to it. It’s good after a big night on the town, you sweat out the messiness of the night before, and just go jump in a swimming pool. It’s a healing food, Tommy.
That pool you have there is so beautiful as well. The big outdoor one – I’ve forgotten the name of it, though … I don’t think it’s far from the markets.
Parap?
Yeah, Parap!
Parap. We’ve got it! And do you have other plans while you’re here? New tatt this time perhaps?
Darwin, for all its upsides, is a bad place to get tattoos, so no, I will not do that. I’ll just cruise around town, I don’t think I’m there for long enough, I gotta come up and do an actual holiday for once, that’s something that’s gonna be in my future as well. At some point, I’ll stop touring and actually take some time to enjoy this beautiful country.
Nice. Is there anything you want to say to our readers?
Just that I love them, and so they should love me back in monetary form. [Laughs]
[Laughs] Well, we look forward to having you back, Tommy. Might even catch you for a tiny beer!
That sounds great. Tiny beers are on me, I promise, that way, if you hate them, I don’t feel too bad!
Tommy Little – I’m Not Proud
WHEN SAT 6 SEP | 7.30PM
AT AANT CENTRE
COST $59 | $49 CONC/GROUP
INFO yourcentre.com.au
