Melbourne International Comedy Festival comedian Q&A: Tom Skelton, Blind Man’s Bluff

Tom Skelton reveals the mishaps and mayhem of living life as a blind person.

Tom Skelton Melbourne Comedy Festival 2019.

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

Blind Man’s Bluff is a unique look at the history of blindness, with me playing all the most famous, and not so famous, VIPs (Visually Impaired People!), whilst also telling the story of my own sight loss and revealing some of the funny realities of living life as someone registered blind.

You can expect silliness, sketches and blind jokes — but it’s OK, it’s absolutely fine to laugh.

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

I’m a British comedian and improviser, who also happens to be registered blind.

And I’ve just moved to Melbourne a la Dick Whittington to seek fame, fortune and sunshine, so I’m relishing my first comedy festival.

I’ve been performing at the Edinburgh Fringe for many years, as well as London, Poland, Belgium, and Perth and Adelaide Fringes.

Aside from Blind Man’s Bluff, I have done four other solo shows: Blind Eye Spy (my imagined adventures as a blind spy in post-Brexit Berlin); Tom Skelton’s one-man Macbeth (pretty self-explanatory farce); 2061 (my Orwellian odyssey/2016 rip-off of 1984); and Foolball (the history of the greatest football (soccer/real football) club that never existed).

I star in Edinburgh, Perth and Adelaide smash hit Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes, am a founding member of UK improv sensations and Perth Fringe World Comedy Award nominees Racing Minds, and am about to begin performing with Melbourne improv giants The Big Hoo Ha.

I lost most of my sight nearly a decade ago, due to a genetic condition that runs in my family, leaving me with about five per cent vision.

One of the first times I noticed some blurriness was at the Edinburgh Fringe, when I missed a visual cue from a fellow performer and soon after my sight deteriorated rapidly.

I assumed that I would have to give up comedy, but I carried on, despite some obvious pratfalls (literally) and am now doing shows about my sight.

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

Everyone! Sorry, I’m sure everyone says that.

I’ve just checked and it is 16-plus, so that rules some people out straightaway.

The show is for anyone who wants to laugh, first and foremost.

If they are intrigued by, or have a connection to, visual impairment in some way, they might laugh that bit harder.

Come and see me, even if I can’t quite see you. Guide dogs welcome!

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

Laugh audibly, as I can’t see you silently chuckling!

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

Clara Cupcakes — I Made This For You.

She is a fantastically funny performer, and although I need my binoculars to keep up with the brilliant visual gags, I’ve loved all of her shows. So funny, energetic and skilful.

Garry Starr Conquers Troy. I loved his last show Performs Everything and am relishing this fantastic-sounding follow-up!

And I’m looking forward to discovering lots of brilliant new stuff — I always like to take a punt on a new act I’ve never heard of before.

What stands out to you about Melbourne?

As I’m moving here, the brief visits I’ve made before obviously made a good impression. The relaxed, creative atmosphere, cracking coffee, friendly people and vibrant energy of he city all made me want to come back for more.

Who or what is your comedic inspiration, and why?

I love Chris Morris of The Day Today and Brass Eye fame, the Monty Python gang and its Fawlty Towers child prodigy, and I love Claudia O’Dohertty’s stuff. Oh, and Aunty Donna too, of course!

TOM SKELTON, BLIND MAN’S BLUFF, APRIL 8-21, IMPERIAL HOTEL, HOOPER ROOM, 2 BOURKE ST. BOOK TICKETS.