Comedian Matt Okine part of Sydney Comedy Festival
AWARD-winning comedian, actor and former radio host Matt Okine will join the Sydney Comedy Festival later this month and promises it will be very, very funny.
Central Sydney
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IF the summary of Matt Okine’s latest stand-up show leaves you confused as to what it is about, that is because it has nothing to do with the show.
The award-winning comedian, actor and former radio host says this is because comedians are usually prompted to come up with a description well before they have even written the show.
“You just say what you think is funny at the moment and you hope you are still talking about it in six months time,” he says.
Okine has been busy touring his seventh solo show The Hat Game at comedy festivals around the country, which details the time he decided to try to become an Olympic swimmer a decade ago.
Inspired by Eric Moussambani from Equatorial Guinea’s Sydney 2000 Olympic debut, Okine says he was hoping his Ghanaian heritage would make up for his lack of athletic ability.
“My dad is from Ghana and Ghana had never submitted anybody for swimming in the Olympics,” he says.
His next step to Olympic glory was a $450 citizenship application.
But the cost of this application proved too high as Okine had just moved to Sydney with little savings to his name.
After touring nationally, he is heading back to Sydney soon to bring The Hat Game to the Enmore Theatre on Friday, May 11.
“I’m so happy with the show,” he says. “The last few years I’ve had to focus on either doing radio or making a TV show.
“This year I’ve been able to really knuckle down and dedicate all my time to doing clubs and getting match fit.”
The show is part of the Sydney Comedy Festival, which will be bringing a smorgasbord of comedy stars to venues across the city from April 23 to May 20.
The 2018 program has more than 210 shows from international comics, including Ross Noble, David O’Doherty, Stephen K Amos and Shawn Wayans, as well as Australian crowd favourites such as Kitty Flanagan, Tom Gleeson and Joel Creasey.
The festival’s showcase tour will return with a mix of comics performing at venues near the city before taking the tour on the road to reach other areas of Sydney.
Okine, who has been a part of the showcase tours in previous years, says they are fun for both the comedians and audiences.
“It’s the best with the showcase shows — you get to see a whole range of different comedians who are in town,” he says.
“Maybe you don’t want to see me, maybe you hate me but regardless just go and see someone at the festival because it’s going to be great.”
See the full festival program at sydneycomedyfest.com.au
IN OTHER NEWS
Showcase tour
The Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase Tour will be at Bondi Pavilion on April 30 and May 7, UNSW Roundhouse on May 1, Hayden Orpheum on May 8 and The Manning Bar on May 15.
The tour will then be head outside of central Sydney to Sutherland Entertainment Centre on May 24, Hornsby RSL Club on May 25, Panthers Penrith on May 26, Dee Why RSL Club on May 27, Camden Civic Centre on June 7 and Laycock Street Theatre in Gosford on June 9.