NAZEEM HUSSAIN

Nazeem Hussain returns to Darwin with his new show I’d Like To Tell You About Some Jokes, the Top End an appropriate final stop on his mammoth Australian tour. 

Hussain remembers the city for its laid-back atmosphere, spontaneous friendships, and strangers inviting him out for dinner. Now, after his biggest-selling tour to date, he’s looking forward to returning to a place he describes as feeling less like work and more like a holiday. Brooke Gibbs caught up with the comedian ahead of his show at AANT Centre.

IMAGE CHILLARY

You’re coming back to Darwin for the final show of the tour. What do you remember from your last visit? I remember meeting lots of random people, out and about. 
That’s what I really like about Darwin. People are just … I don’t know, they’re a bit like me. They lack that level of politeness where they just don’t go up to strangers. So many people came up to me and just invited me out for dinner and meals and coffee and wanted to be my tour guide. I think I remember eating dinner before the show with some random person. I don’t remember his name, but that just doesn’t happen anywhere else on tour.

Normally I just put my headphones in and shuttle between the hotel and the venue, but in Darwin, it definitely feels like some sort of community vibe that I’m just not used to anywhere else.

But I love it. It feels like a really different type of Australia. It’s just way more laid-back and fun. Whenever I’m there, I’m already in a good mood. It doesn’t feel like work or like I’m on tour. Honestly, it feels like I’m on a holiday.

Your new show promises wild stories, unhinged characters and “still no sign of a filter”. How much trouble are you planning to get yourself into here? 
It’s probably the last leg of my tour, so I’m happy to just really leave it all out there on the stage, to be honest. I’ll throw up what I’ll throw at them. Whatever comes to mind. And I don’t think I’m going to second-guess myself too much because it is literally the last time I’ll be doing this show.

So, yeah, no less of a filter than usual. And yeah, just hoping no one’s recording so that I can just really let it all out. And hopefully no troubling emails afterwards to my manager.

What a place for Darwin to be your last show, given everything you’ve just said about the city! 
I honestly feel like it’s the perfect place to end the tour because they’re just the loosest and kind of most up for it. I feel like some other cities can be a little bit more uptight and they’re probably a little bit … you know, they sort of sit there with the attitude of, “We’ve seen a lot of comedy, so what are you bringing in?”. You’ve really got to perform for them in a way. You’ve got to prove yourself.

Whereas I think in Darwin there’s not that expectation. They’re just there for fun. It’s a bit more of a party. For me, it feels like a big wrap party for this tour, which feels like it’s been going on forever. I’ll be packing shorts to Darwin and I’m not a shorts person. I have skinny ankles being a Sri Lankan. After the last joke, I’ll be feeling a little emotional because I really love performing this show.

You’ve just come off your biggest selling tour ever. Does that make you feel like some sort of comedy rock star or are you still just someone desperately trying to make us laugh for a living? 
I think every comedian wants to be a rock star, but at the end of the day we’re not. We’re not as cool. We’re a bunch of dorks. And, you know, we leverage our otherness and quirkiness to people who are probably similar to us. I feel like people that come to comedy shows and people that really like my comedy anyway are often a bunch of misfits.

But Darwin, it seems like people haven’t blocked me on their social media feeds, which is where I’m telling them to come to the show, and they’re coming. So, I’m thankful for that. Maybe they can block me after this, but I want to keep coming back, so actually don’t block me. In fact, highlight me or whatever the hell you do on social media.

It’s such a weird life to have to just travel around and tell people jokes and stories about your life. Normally this is reserved for, I guess, your therapist, but I guess this is a form of therapy. Getting stuff off your chest and getting paid for it.

For anyone who hasn’t seen you perform live before, what can they expect from I’d Like To Tell You About Some Jokes?
As I’ve got a bunch of jokes to tell, each show is completely different. Each show is basically tailored to the audience. It’s a bit of a choose-your-ownadventure based on what people are laughing at. That’s where the show goes.

And look, it doesn’t always go well. But when it does go well, it’s euphoric. But when it doesn’t … Well, it’s the opposite of what euphoria is. But, you know, so long as we’re all sharing that feeling, it’s not just mine to wear.

And before we let you go, is there anything else you want Darwin audiences to know? 
Just if anyone wants to invite me out for dinner, to their family home or whatever … you know, I’ve got time, I think.

Nazeem Hussain - I’d Like to Tell You About Some Jokes 
WHEN FRI 11 SEP | 7PM 
AT AANT CENTRE 
COST $39.90 
INFO yourcentre.com.au