Ahead of rare Hong Kong shows, Aussie comedian Dave Hughes talks about the riches of embarrassment
Funnyman who has made a career out of embarrassing situations makes a rare overseas foray, bringing his biting observations to Wan Chai for three nights
Australian comedian and media personality Dave Hughes is a household name in his homeland, but he’s the first to admit he’s something of an unknown quantity overseas.
“It annoys me that I don’t do gigs outside Australia more often,” he says. “I’ve been full-time with radio and TV in Australia, and there’s just not enough time. I really like getting up in front of non-Aussies – although it’s still mostly Aussies at my shows everywhere.”
Hughes will make one of his rare overseas forays to perform at the Punchline Comedy Club at Tamarind in Wan Chai on January 12, 13 and 14. Not being automatically recognised in the street as he is at home, he says, has both pluses and minuses.
“You do get people saying ‘Tell us a joke’ when you’re lining up at the ATM or wherever; luckily they often have low expectations of what is funny and will laugh at whatever I say. So it’s a relief when no one knows me, although it does annoy me when I don’t get such good service.”
A prolific stand-up, Hughes, 46, universally known as Hughesy, specialises in observational material built around his annoyance with the inconveniences and minor humiliations of everyday life, expressed in a stark, opinionated but good-natured style. His offstage personality isn’t a whole lot different, although with a lot less annoyance.