Melbourne International Comedy Festival comedian Q&A: Firdi Billimoria, Milk The Bread

A funny show of self-reflection and observation that often diverts off into surreal tangents

Firdi Billimoria, Milk The Bread

What can people expect from your show at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival?

Milk The Bread is a Stand Up comedy show, with stories and general madness.

It’s stories and observations loosely themed around my perception of myself, and how my irrelevance in the world is becoming more prominent, which is totally fine by the way.

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I’ll touch on my ambiguous ethnicity, challenging identity, inability to confront things, consolatory sexual encounters, my bum health, self doubt, and self acceptance.

There’s whimsical charm, but also lots of absurd madness, and a good dose of tangent veering.

I’m a big boy, and I have a big presence on stage, and this show will bring that right out, into your face, right in your face.

That being said, I’m going to be pretty vulnerable on stage too.

What have you been up to since last time you were here?

This is my first solo show at MICF, but I performed in numerous stand-up line-up, sketch and variety shows in previous MICFs.

My comedy is self-reflective, observational and often diverts off into surreal tangents.

I’m bold on stage, take risks, but at the same time now how to work a crowd and bring a communal feel to a comedy night, and that’s what makes me a great comic but also a very capable MC.

I tell great stories, make astute observations but I like being obscure and silly.

I’ve been on the Melbourne stand up scene for 6 years, and have also performed interstate and on sell out showcases in Asia and the US.

I’ve performed sell out runs at Melbourne Fringe Festival in stand up and sketch and had my comedy featured on Channel 31.

I’m also an actor, with credits including Channel 10’s How To Stay Married with, ABC/Netflix’s The InBESTigators, and an emotional Logie-nominated ad campaign for Westpac in 2018. Not only that, I produce one of the most renowned weekly stand-up showcase shows in Melbourne at Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn, every Tuesday.

Who should see your show, and why?

Milk The Bread can appeal to most people except for my mum.

Please don’t tell my mum to see it.

Also, I think my mum is coming to see it aaaargh!

There’s a lot for people in their 20s-mid 30s, those who are trying to work themselves out, are flawed (I will be knocking back people who are perfect), and those trying to accept themselves, but there’s stuff for the gen Xers and boomers in there too, as we all should be trying to understand ourselves better.

If you like longer, often vulnerable, stories, peppered with observations and banging jokes that sometimes may traverse the border of reality and hairbrained absurdity that’s Milk The Bread. I don’t like taking myself seriously and I expose some of my vulnerabilities in this show.

What’s your No.1 tip for people coming to see a show at the comedy festival?

Take a damn punt on someone you’ve never heard of.

If you see a funny poster, or a weird show description or you recognise a face in the guide from your morning tram ride, take a shot on their show.

There’s so much talent at MICF that’s not just the big names you know.

And don’t plan to go home straight after that one show you’ve booked, hang around, be open to flyering and see more comedy.

Which other comedians/shows are you keen to see at this year’s festival, and why?

Daniel Kitson because every time I see him, he strips back the human psyche.

An extraordinary comedic talent that is a master of the joke and of the whimsical story, but will always leave you thinking about this strange thing called life.

Chimp Cop, which are four Melbourne comedians and some of the most genius sketch writers I know.

I’ve seen all their shows the last three years and every year I ROFL and think “How??”

Peter Jones, one of Melbourne’s finest joke writers, that can take you on a journey in every single observation he makes. He knows comedy

Cassie Workman, another one of my comedy idols. A trans woman, a life poet, who can create vivid imagery from stories of heartbreaking vulnerability. Its been a huge couple of years for her and I want to hear this journey

Nick Capper, an outrageous Melbourne based comic from regional NSW. Capper is so unpredictable on stage, I sometimes worry about how his brain works. But he always excites me.

Eve Ellenbogen, she’s so raw, confronting and does not take any crap.

Phone Hacks Podcast Live, this is one of the most cringe-inducing, hilarious podcasts, where comedians have to expose the contents of their phones to each other and be prepared for pranks.

What do you love about Melbourne?

I have lived in Melbourne most of my life.

What stands out is that on the same street I will see in inner-city boho musician, a Instagram food pornographer, a corporate suit with eyes that are yearning for freedom, a mum with the excitement of not having her kids for the day, a moustached entrepreneur who’s is sure that his barber-themed IPA brand is the next big thing in beer, and my mate Krish because he’s probably standing next to me.

Some people call this diversity, I call this a bunch of different stories to observe and create. Inspiration maybe.

Who or what is your comedic inspiration, and why?

My comedic inspiration is humans, how myself, others, and us as a community are steering through the precarious nature of this current moment in history.

I like reflecting on who I am because a lot of the time, there’s much silliness in what I do.

Anything else you want us to know about you or your show?

It’s definitely not kid friendly but I guess that depends on how liberal their parents are. Yes, it’s vulnerable, yes its absurd, but most importantly it’s a fun show.

FIRDI BILLIMORIA, MILK THE BREAD, MARCH 27-APRIL 8, COOPERS INN, 282 EXHIBITION ST, BOOK TICKETS