Behind every clown is a story and comedian AKMAL SALEH is no exception. The product of a strict religious household, he grew up with an Arabic heritage in an unforgiving society – all of which left him with a questioning character and indirectly led to his career in comedy. BROOKE MCMASTER explores the comic’s serious side.

BROOKE MCMASTER: So where did the magic begin?

Akmal Saleh: I was born in Cairo. It was very crowded and dusty, but it was very friendly. The neighbours would talk to each other from across the balconies and there was always life in the street below. But I used to cause my parents a lot of problems. I used to do things like go next door and turn off the neighbour’s electricity at the same time every day, just for no reason. I was a strange child.

BM: At what moment did you think that you could do comedy for a living?

AS: I used to go to the Comedy Store in Sydney all the time and I got to know all the comedians. I started writing a few jokes for them. But I never thought I could do it myself until I saw them getting laughs with lines that I’d written. Then I thought this could be something I could do.

BM: Your family is quite religious, how did they react to you wanting to devote your life to being funny?

AK: Being a comedian just wasn’t acceptable as a career because it was considered low class. While other kids were studying to get into medicine I was spending every bit of spare money I had on comedy albums like Monty Python and Not The Nine O’clock News. I played them until I knew them off by heart.

BM: How do you explain the feeling of performing?

AS: Every time you perform it’s a blind date. You’re trying to figure out the audience at the same time they’re trying to figure you out. They’re thinking where’s he going with this? Am I going to be comfortable with this person? Am I going to go home with him or am I going to make an excuse? Certain people bring out certain characteristics in you and audiences are the same.

BM: What are the makings of a great comic?

AS: To be a true comedian, you have to be vulnerable. A lot of them are lonely people who never really connected with the majority or they feel uncomfortable doing mainstream things. All comedians are outsiders. In order to be able to write and stand on stage and make people laugh, you have to step outside of the norm.

BM: You seem to be a child at heart, how does your wife manage your energy?

AS: I am! I am a childish husband. She’s married to a child. I try to be the romantic guy but it doesn’t work, she sees right through it. I’m at my most comfortable when I’m playing jokes on her and being silly. A lot of women wouldn’t stand for that.

BM: So, how do you explain all that energy?

AS: I just never feel my age because of the work that I do. Friends my age often talk so much older and feel so much older. When I first met Spike Milligan, one of my idols, he was 80 years-old and he was physically very fragile but mentally he was like a 20-year-old. He was getting joy out of being cheeky. I thought that’s what I want when I’m old. I don’t ever want to lose that mischievous outlook on life.

AKMAL SALEH plays The QPAC Playhouse as part of the IN STITCHES comedy festival, Wednesday June 25 – Saturday June 29.

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*