The Hobart Festival of Comedy: Sammy J on the ‘timelessness’ of live theatre

Sammy J is one of a handful of interstate comedians set to perform at this year’s Hobart Festival of Comedy. The story behind the show.

Sammy J will perform at the Odeon Theatre in Hobart on Sunday. Picture: supplied

Sammy J is back on stage and this time, he’s not talking politics.

Based on what he called “the most humiliating moment of my life,” his new show, The Kangaroo Effect, will debut in Hobart on Sunday as one of a handful of interstate acts at the Hobart Festival of Comedy.

The show rehashes an incident where Sammy mistook a vaguely-written invitation for a friends’ 40th as an opportunity to show up in a Kangaroo onesie, leading to the realisation he was, in fact, wrong.

Sammy J will perform at the Odeon Theatre in Hobart on Sunday. Picture: supplied

Over the hour-long performance, the audience is transformed into a jury, with Sammy pleading his case against a backlog of evidence of attention-seeking behaviour.

“I’m used to having an audience and getting laughs but I felt like the biggest idiot,” he said.

“So the show goes back years into my childhood, to explain why I interpreted this without questioning.”

In pivoting from the sharp-eyed political satire that won him the coveted ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast slot, a role he stepped away from in December, Sammy, born Samuel Jonathan McMillan, said he aimed to “embrace the silly”.

Sammy J will perform at the Odeon Theatre in Hobart on Sunday. Picture: supplied

“I quit my radio job because I love being in a room with other people,” he said.

“I spent ten years deeply in the news cycle and it’s really refreshing to tell a personal story.”

That same ability to switch off had been a drawcard for live comedy-goers, especially in the smartphone age, he said.

“We’re all addicted to our phones and hyper-charged by the news cycle, so performances are a chance to escape the world for a bit,” he said.

“I think people are excited about getting out to live theatre, and I don’t think they’ll be anything that replaces it. It’s timeless.”

In looking back at his younger self – a young comedian doing his best and making jokes that didn’t always land – Sammy said the show reflected his growth to becoming “a 41 year old dad”.

“I’ve become more aware and compassionate over the years, and (in the show) that empathy goes in both directions,” he said.

“I came to Hobart 12 years ago for my first gigs doing some stuff that was purposely offensive, ironic and pushing boundaries.

“It’s an act of forgiveness to look back at myself and the reasons I said what I said and not piling on.”

While “big on free speech in comedy”, Sammy said it should always be a “welcoming place”.

“There’s fun and joy and silliness in the world as well, I want to entertain people.”

The show will take place at the Odeon, one of four non-traditional stand-up venues host to this year’s performers.

Comedians ready for the Hobart Comedy Festival Picture: Linda Higginson

Festival producer Melanie Price said the strength of the local scene had rendered the state a growing comedy destination.

“There’s an interesting juxtaposition to have comedy in such a historically dark place,” she said, adding with the diversity of vendors and venues the festival would have “something for everyone”.

The Hobart Festival of Comedy continues through to Sunday.

For more information visit festivalofcomedy.com.au

Schedule from March 6

THURSDAY

*The Clubhouse hosted by David Bakker

*Nazeem Hussain

FRIDAY

*Alex Ward

*Ricardo Quevedo

*He Huang

SATURDAY

*Danny Bhoy

*Ivan Aristeguieta

*Zoe Coombs Marr

*Ray O’Leary

*Club Chaos

SUNDAY

*Sammy J