Comedian Barry Humphries rich history performing in Queensland

Harvey Lister reveals the day legendary comedian Barry Humphries, in character as Dame Edna, was kicked out of Queensland parliament.

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Brisbane entertainment king Harvey Lister has remembered the late Barry Humphries as a “wonderful, wonderful comedian” with a quick wit and a love of Brisbane.

The chairman and CEO of ASM Global (Asia Pacific), who said the beloved stage star’s death was “very sad”, had worked with Humphries many times over a number of decades, particularly in Mr Lister’s early career as a publicist and tour promoter.

Dame Edna Everage at Conrad Jupiters Casino in 1987. Picture: Regina King

“Every day Barry would want to do something to make some space in the newspaper to let everybody know he was in town,” Mr Lister said.

“In 1980 or ‘81 he was doing a season at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Brisbane and every morning he would call me at 6am to work out what the media story would be for the day.”

He said during a Brisbane garbage truck strike, Humphries had demanded Mr Lister help him secure one and proceeded to hold a press conference from the truck.

Actor Barry Humphries, as Dame Edna Everage, after being thrown out of a Parliament House garden party.

Another time, he insisted on crashing a garden party at Parliament House.

“He asked ‘what can we do today?’ and I said ‘not too much today, Barry it’s the opening of parliament followed by a garden party’ and he said ‘I’ve got to go to that’,” Mr Lister recalled.

“We took a limo to Old Parliament House and he went to go in, as Dame Edna of course, but security stopped him so he pulled out his AJA (Australian Journalists Association) card and waved it around. He was larger than life.”

Humphries was thrown out “before the pollies arrived” after brandishing his umbrella in jest at the organiser in front of attending media but managed to make international headlines for the stunt.

Steve Irwin with Dame Edna Everage in 2003. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Mr Lister said one of Humphries’ favourite tricks was to close the theatre doors “a bit early” to ensure his alter ego Dame Edna Everage always had a group of “latecomers” to roast.

He said Humphries had “always loved” Brisbane and would research what was happening in the River City each day he was in town on tour there to ensure he had some relevant local lines in his show.

Barry Humphries, at Griffith University in 1994. Picture: David Sproule

“He was outrageously funny,” Mr Lister said.

In the years before his death, Humphries had spoken about how Brisbane had grown on him.

He told The Courier-Mail that when he initially began touring there in the ‘60s “no one came at all” but he eventually grew his audience and his love of touring the city.

Michael Rogers, Dame Edna Everage, Bill Brett and Kevin Perkins at the Youngcare Charity Ball in Brisbane in 2006.

“I call it sneaky Brisbane,” Humphries previously told The Courier-Mail.

“Brisbane has streaked ahead of the southern capitals, in a sneaky way. I come from Melbourne where it used to be fashionable to discount Brisbane as a hick town. It eventually became a suburb of Surfers Paradise. Now it is a destination for international stars.”

Australian comedian Barry Humphries as his alter ego, Dame Edna Everage, with then Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce at Government House in Brisbane in 2007. Picture: AAP Image/Jessica Marszalek