Interview with Paul Foot: Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2015

Interview with Paul Foot: Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2015

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Posted 2015-03-25 by Ashley Wallacefollow

Thu 26 Mar 2015 - Sun 19 Apr 2015

Hovercraft Symphony in Gammon # Major (UK) Paul Foot is a well known face on the comedy circuit having regular appearances in London, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the UK and is back for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. With the most dapper of metallic stylings, Paul Foot is set to unveil his mysterious brief case full of new rants and tall tales at Melbourne's Hi Fi bar. He will appear on stage 22 times from 26 March to 19 April.In an interview prior to his arrival in Australia, Paul Foot talks about his new show ''Hovercraft Symphony in Gammon # Major', whilst covering an array of other comical topics.
According to Paul the unusual title of the show has absolutely nothing to do with what is in the show, except perhaps suggests the tone. When asked about the content Paul says "It has all sorts in it. It's mostly lies, though. Brutal lies and meaningless life lessons."Paul Foot actually started writing the Hovercraft Symphony on his tour of Melbourne last year, "Then I went away to Honk Kong for two weeks to do more writing. Then I honed it in Secret Shows in London and in the Edinburgh Festival last August. It takes time to make Symphony baybayyyyy."When it comes to style, Paul Foot is right on bogan trend with his mullet that he keeps clean with ''lesbian salmon-liver oil".

Paul explains that he has his own designer, 'Sir Burlington Garter', whom is entirely fictional. This year the audience are in for a treat, as his next look will be space casual, "like an astronaut at a garden party or a housewife on a space station." Expect silver shoes and a new edition to his wardrobe, the 'leathair jacket'. According to Paul, it's like normal leather except massively more inconvenient because it dissipates in a light breeze.

Paul isn't exactly known for sensibility, when asked what the most normal thing he has ever done, apparently it is "the Lesbian salmon salsa class. Every Tuesday with Margaret Clam. Upstream scissors all the way."

At this stage you might think Paul is a little weird, but according to Paul the definition of weird is people who refuse to acknowledge difference. "We are all different and that's fine. Except for them - they need to change."

If you've ever been to a Paul Foot show or signed up to his website, you'll notice he calls his fans 'connoisseurs'.

Paul says that's because "they don't care about me personally. They are Connoisseurs of my comedy. The comedy is what intrigues them. If I were to get run over by a big car tomorrow, none of them would mind, apart from the fact that, of course, the comedy would stop. They would be annoyed about that. So I try my best to cross roads safely."

The website is much like Paul, flamboyant and clever. With spinning characters and jelly that wobbles as the navigation panel, Paul definitely added his own creative flair, having designed what would be in the pictures. "It was a loada fun thinking up all that nonsense. Such as Skeleton Johnston's lady friend cooking her own spaghetti hair."

Paul's humour is not only ludicrous. Seemingly he can be quite sarcastic when asked a stupid question about his age."Let me just Google that and check for you. One second. Ah yes! I was born in the nineteen seventies apparently. Google also reveals that, yes, it is rude to ask how old someone is. However, my driving license reveals that I am 41. I don't know what to believe."

For someone born in the 70's, Paul is energetic and animated on stage. To hype himself up before a show he confirms he doesn't drink coffee, he likes a water and sushi with massive dose of wasabi. "It's like a rocket under the tongue."

Offstage Paul describes himself as generally the same as onstage apart from being an angry driver and typically polite when talking to someone in the dry cleaners. "Life is hilarious and one of the great things about being a famous comedian is people let you get away with mucking about all the time."

On winning Best International Act Sydney & Perth Comedy Festivals, Paul says he felt lovely and explains "They posted the Sydney one all the way to me in the UK, but they forgot to pay the right postage so I had to give money to the postman. It was worth it though 'cos it was a top quality glass thing."

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a comedy festival that takes up the whole town, also has the pleasure of having Paul Foot on their line up. Paul described the shows as very smooth and relaxed, "People know what a Paul Foot show is up there and I think it's almost a tradition for some to take in my show as part of a day at the Fringe. It's good fun!"

The toughest show Paul endured was in the UK, where he was booed offstage. You can watch it on YouTube here , uploaded by the man himself. Paul says "It was in a really rough caravan park years and years ago. I didn't leave the stage, though, to make sure I would definitely be paid, so technically it wasn't booed offstage

Paul describes Australian audiences as generally great, the enthusiasm when he comes out onstage is high. He compares Aussie audiences as much freer and more giving than UK audiences.

Paul is used to the long haul flights, travelling between London and Australia for the love of comedy, Paul's positivity shines through his words as he draws on his love of travelling. "Turning my phone off, being wined and dined, listening to Sibelius and doing writing. Any excuse for a long distance flight. It's marvellous."

After answering a couple of questions sensibly it seems Paul slightly loses the plot when asked about special requests of in-flight staff. "Goose glints. They're like a glint of light, except with a goose. When they see me board the plane now they go "Ah! Goose glints coming up!"

Paul doesn't have a favourite city to perform in Australia, "They're all so lovely in different ways. I love Melbourne and Sydney and Adelaide and Brisbane and Perth. I don't know any others. Those are the ones I know. All the people in all of them are so lovely and the weather is all warm and nice. Top quality across the board baybayyyyyy."

#LGBTIQ
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#comedy
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#bars
#art
#humour
#city
#march
!date 26/03/2015 -- 19/04/2015
%wnmelbourne
110315 - 2023-06-12 14:57:57

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