Letters and laughs with

RETURNING to Australia for the 13th time, Scottish comedian, Danny Bhoy will bring his new show to Geelong later this month.

In a series of comedic letters, Dear World observes the complexities and contradictions of modern life with warmth and wit.

“It’s my favourite show,” Bhoy said. “It’s got a lot of laughs in it, and a few props, which I’ve never used before.”

Each night features a core set of letters, with new or location-specific ones added in.

“Different letters resonate differently… depending on where I am,” he explained. “It makes it feel unique and like you’ve made an effort.”

After more than two decades in comedy, Bhoy said he wanted to push himself creatively.

“It feels a little bit more theatrical than other stuff I’ve done… and it’s a lot more structured, which I quite like.”

Bhoy’s relationship with Australian audiences began in 2003 after winning a comedy competition that sent him to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

“I didn’t know comedy existed here,” he said with a laugh, “but it changed my life.”

“Now, every winter I try to get out of Scotland to come here.”

Despite enjoying trading in his Scottish winters for Australian summers, the change in climate always shocks him.

 

“I got here on a Tuesday,” he said, “and it was 46 degrees. When I left Scotland, it was minus eight. That’s a 54-degree swing in 24 hours!”

After having performed in more than 90 towns across Australia during his time on the Comedy Festival Roadshow, he is excited to go beyond the major cities again.

“Some of my best routines came from those adventures,” he said.

While Dear World does include themes of politics, Bhoy said the comedy landscape had changed and it could be more challenging to engage in political or cultural comedy.

“You could use sarcasm and irony much more freely when I started. Now people can get triggered by topics before the punchline.

“The hardest thing to navigate in the modern world with comedy is trying to find ways of talking about things that don’t immediately make people uncomfortable.”

However, Bhoy said he still felt at home performing in Australia.

“You’ve got that nice connection with Scotland. I love the shared sense of humour – that love of a good yarn – it suits my style.”

Danny Bhoy will perform Dear World at Geelong Arts Centre on February 15.

For more information, head to dannybhoy.com/gigs