Melbourne International Comedy Festival comedian Q&A: Jarred Dewey, Party Ghost

Part circus, part seance, come get your fill of spooky and kooky with Jarred Dewey

Jarred Dewey, Party Ghost.

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

Party Ghost is part circus and part seance, fans of high-level acrobatics and dark comedy will find Party Ghost refreshing, jaw-dropping, and hauntingly hilarious.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, it might just change your (after) life!

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If you’re new to MICF, tell us about you.

It’s our first time haunting MICF and we can’t wait to spook our audiences.

Behind the ghost sheets we are Olivia Porter (Circus Oz, La Soiree) and Jarred Dewey (Circa, Circus Oz).

In November 2017 we devised and debuted our first production Party Ghost directed by Nicci Wilks.

From a short four-show season at The Melba, the production was heralded as one of 10 best shows of 2017 by ArtsHub and was met with a humblingly warm response from both peers and general public alike.

Spruik it! Who should see your show, and why?

Party Ghost is high-camp and high-skill, inspired by cult classic cinema and B-grade slasher films of the ‘80s and ‘90s. We combine the thrilling suspense of Hitchcock, with the melancholic beauty of Tim Burton spliced with the raw gritty flavour of Australian circus.

Party Ghost is so far left that you’ll be thoroughly gobsmacked at how ooky, kooky and spooky it is.

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

Our No. 1 tip for people coming to see shows at MICF is to be responsive.

Live theatre, circus and comedy is a dialogue between performer and audience.

It’s happening right in front of you in real time. The sweat is real, the risk is real and the love is real.

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

This year’s MICF is chockablock full of fantastic shows, it’s hard to choose. We’re especially excited to see Betty Grumble (The UnShame Machine/Love & Anger), Anna Lumb and Jez Davies (Super Amazing Giant Girl) and Neon by Circus Oz.

What stands out to you about Melbourne?

Melbourne is a cultural capital. Great food, great coffee, great quality, but most of all great shows.

Who or what is your comedic inspiration, and why?

We are inspired by cult cinema, to the art of drag and of course the many amazing Australian clown and circus makers such as Derek Ives, Nicci Wilks and Acrobat.

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

Come to our show, say hello and tell us your scariest supernatural encounter. We love a good ghost story.

Jarred Dewey, Party Ghost, APRIL 11-21, The Melba Spiegeltent, 35 Johnston St, Collingwood. BOOK TICKETS.