Entertainment

Interview: Joel Creasey – Australia’s Prince Of Comedy Coming To Be Regal In Adelaide At The Regal

Ben Stefanoff interviews Australia’s Prince of Comedy, Joel Creasey about his career and his upcoming Adelaide shows.

Crowned as Australia’s Prince of Comedy, Joel Creasey is one of Australia’s most popular stand-up comedians, radio and television presenters. After his national tour was cut short last year due to COVID-19, Joel Creasey will be back here in Adelaide Thursday March 11 and 12 at the stunning Regal Theatre.

Over the last 15 years, Joel has become a household name with his work on television, radio and stand-up comedy.

“I’m one of those people that is never content, which probably shits my manager off. I’m always looking for that next thing. Every now and again I do allow myself to step back and go ‘well this is pretty cool!’ For example, on Saturday evening I was standing on the Sydney Cricket Ground for Mardi Gras next to Courtney Act, Narelda Jacobs and Zoë Coombs Marr watching Rita Ora perform live. Given the year that it’s been, what the Sydney Mardi Gras was able to pull off was quite a cool moment. But then I always snap back into the whole ‘so what’s next?’ mode.”

Joel first started stand-up comedy at age 15, after watching some of his comedy idols perform.

“I never particularly enjoyed school, but I really loved watching stand-up, especially the greats of Australian Comedy – Fiona O’Loughlin, Judith Lucy, as well as overseas comedians like Joan Rivers and Kathy Griffin. I really had this weird affinity with them. One day I was watching a Kathy Griffin interview and thought “Hey, that’s me! I need to give this a go.” So, I signed up for a comedy competition night. Once you’ve done it once, and you’ve made people laugh, it really is an addiction. It’s so much fun, and you’re off and racing. So, 15 years later, I’m still doing it. I love it.”

It seems fitting that Joel will be performing his first stand-up show in front of a live audience since the pandemic here in Adelaide, which is where Joel’s last live show was before the world stood still in March 2020.

“My last shows were in March 2020 in Adelaide, so this will be the first time back doing stand-up in front of a crowd. So, it’s kind of nice in a way that my first shows back are where it all stopped for me. The show that I was doing at the Fringe last year was meant to go on and tour. What I’ll be doing in Adelaide this week is kind of a ‘best of’ of my last 15 years in comedy. It will also spend a bit of time directed at what’s been happening in the last 12 months, because there’s been a fair bit in the news.”

While Joel loves working in television and radio, it’s the adrenaline rush he gets from performing in front of a live crowd that Joel loves.

“Radio and TV are great, and I’m so lucky to work these jobs. But there is no substitute for a live audience, particularly a live audience that has come to see you. I’m always appreciative as I know that people have not only paid for the tickets, but they would have been out for dinner before, or booked a babysitter, paid for Ubers or parking. So, the fact that people have paid to hear my silly words is so flattering. I always think about that before I go on stage, and I make sure I give it my all. Also, with my style of stand up, I just want to make people laugh for the evening. I want to give people an escape. I don’t want to challenge people too much, particularly after the last year. I just want to give people a darn good time and let them have a laugh.”

Joel Creasey will be performing at The Regal Theatre this Thursday March 11 and Friday March 12 at 8pm, and is presented by Nova 919 and Roulette Shows. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=705519

Interview by Ben Stefanoff

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