Michael Shafer is returning to the Adelaide Fringe with his new show, Well Worth The Chemo, in addition to the much loved 3 Course Comedy.
Michael has quickly become one of Australia’s busiest comedians, hosting Channel 31’s satirical news show ‘The Leak’, being a finalist at the RAW Comedy national Grand Final, appearing on ABC’s Comedy Bites, Triple J’s Good Az Friday, and being a regular writer for the TV show, ‘The Project’. Michael has toured Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the US performing stand up, receiving rave reviews wherever he performs. But prior to hitting the world of stand up comedy, Michael studied and worked in law.
The past twelve months have been rather full for Michael. From getting married to traveling overseas for the first time in what feels like forever, Michael has certainly packed a lot in. We caught up ahead of his time at the Fringe to discuss his new show, and I even asked him the question all newly weds are required to suffer through: “How’s married life treating you?”
“It’s pretty much the same. My wife and I have been together now for 13 years, so relationship-wise, it’s not much different, except we are now just married. It is weird saying ‘my wife’, so I’m sticking to ‘my partner’. I’m not ready to be an adult yet, so I think I’ll not bring the ‘wife’ word in just yet.”
Michael spoke to me about his time overseas, and about performing on the ‘COVID breeding vessel’ (in Michael’s words)… a cruise ship.
“I travelled to New Zealand for a bit. It felt very weird being in an international airport and sitting on a plane. I kept thinking to myself that we would be turned around mid light because New Zealand was going to close the border again. I also felt that way when I flew to WA at one stage. It was very nice to get my passport out and travel again. I’m planning to head to the UK as well in July as I’m scheduled to do the Edinburgh Festival in August. I thought it would be good to get as much mileage out of the passport now we can travel so freely.
“I was brewing a new strain whilst on the cruise ship” Michael chuckled.
“I was very surprised I didn’t catch COVID whilst on the cruise ship. You hear stories about people getting locked away on the boats, but I got through it and did some great shows on the boat. I find them fun gigs to get and you get to travel at the same time.”
Michael is constantly attacked on social media by trolls, which provides him with plenty of comedy material for his show. But he has the most wonderful way of dealing with them.
“They are really helpful. People write the funniest and dumbest things and I just find it hilarious. It’s really great when people write something negative that could actually be interpreted as a compliment. So I love sharing it as a compliment on social media just to annoy them. Kill them with kindness.”
Michael is bringing his new show Well Worth The Chemo to this year’s Fringe.
“I hate using words like ‘edgy’, but I think this is my edgiest show yet. I’m covering a lot of topics that I don’t think people cover on stage or in polite society. I think everything I am talking about, most people would agree with, but it’s not necessarily something you would agree with in public, if that makes sense. That’s something I like to do with standup, talk about things you agree with but you are not going to say it out loud. I have some bits about The Queen passing away and bits and pieces like that that have made the news recently. I like to keep people on their toes.”
There are two opportunities to see Michael this Fringe. His ever popular 3 Course Comedy is running until Monday 13 March in the Piglet, Gluttony. Tickets for this can be purchased here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/3-course-comedy-af2023 .
Michael’s new show, Well Worth The Chemo opens Tuesday March 14 and runs till March 19 at 7.05pm in the Piglet, Gluttony. Tickets can be purchased here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/michael-shafar-well-worth-the-chemo-af2023 .
Interviewed by Ben Stefanoff
