Comedian Anh Do to bring refugee stage show to the region

COMEDIAN Anh Do will bring his national stage production to the Northern Rivers, blending stand-up with the story of his journey from Vietnamese refugee to national entertainer.

The show will be held at the Lennox Head Cultural Centre on Thursday 30 April.

It combines stand-up comedy with real-life stories, photos and filmed pieces to retell his experience of fleeing Vietnam aboard an overcrowded fishing boat.

The journey included pirate attacks, dehydration and weeks in cramped conditions before time spent in a Malaysian refugee camp.

The show is based on his bestselling memoir, The Happiest Refugee, which explores his early life experiences and how they shaped his adult life.

Do was close to completing a double degree in business law in Sydney before choosing a career in stand-up comedy.

He said early audiences were often surprised by his storytelling style as he broke down barriers for multicultural comedians.

“The old guys finally realise that if they closed their eyes, this Vietnamese kid was actually just an Aussie comedian up there talking about his working-class childhood,” Do said. “I remember all through school being determined to prove that I could survive without any outside help.”

Performing in Sydney comedy clubs while studying, he developed a reputation for his energetic delivery and personal storytelling, which led to success across the national comedy circuit.

His rise saw him win multiple comedy awards, appear regularly on television and radio, and sell out major venues, including the Sydney Opera House and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Beyond comedy and writing, Do has also built a career as a visual artist.

He created the ABC television series Anh’s Brush with Fame, in which he paints portraits of notable Australians while interviewing them.

His work in visual arts has been recognised with two Archibald Prize nominations, as well as the People’s Choice Award in 2017 for his portrait of actor Jack Charles.

Tickets for the Lennox Head show can be purchased at TryBooking.