Despite what you might have read, Irish stand-up comedian Tommy Tiernan isn’t out to shock his audience.
Although comments from one of his shows attracted controversy when taken out of context a few years ago, scandal isn’t something he courts. His thoughts about the US might offend some more patriotic Americans, however – Tiernan is excited to be coming out to Australia, but doesn’t feel the same way about the States.
“I’m not curious about America,” he says. “I am offended by America. It’s like a white Iran, full of Christian capitalist fundamentalists. I’m looking forward to getting to know Australians, whether it’s 80 people in a bar in the outback, or 2,000 people in the Opera House. I’m proud to play on the other side of the world. I’m keen to get across that I want to get to know Australia from a performer’s point of view.”
Does Tiernan, who used to play Father Kevin on the much loved television show Father Ted, get people waving green flags and shamrocks at his shows? “The Irish, absolutely,” he says. “I’m proud to play for Irish people. It’s thrilling.”
One of Tiernan’s more recent endeavours saw him forgo the safety net of a well-rehearsed routine for a completely improvised show. “I [started] talking with no setlist or anything. That’s the risk – a fully improvised show. You walk out onstage and have to talk for an hour.”
Tiernan says the improvisation in his last show has influenced his upcoming show for Sydney Comedy Festival – which is rehearsed, but peppered with moments of spontaneity. “[This] show is about getting older, about the awareness of getting older and the changing nature of ambition. When you’re younger, ambition is about status, recognition, lust and conquest. As you get older, you see the folly of all of those things. You see that every castle is built on sand. I’m 46 and I can see the futility of achievement. There are things now I want to experience, rather than things I want to achieve. When you’re in your teens, 20s and 30s, your libido rules, but the nature of it changes as you get older. You develop a lust for life rather than a sexual thing.”
Even if Tiernan isn’t out to create headlines, though, there isn’t anything he’ll actively steer clear of talking about onstage. “I don’t avoid anything,” he says. “But I don’t go onstage hoping to cause offence. The media creates a dynamic – a comedian’s job is to work the room, a journalist’s job is to work the story. No-one has left any of my shows feeling outraged. Things are taken out of context. There’s a contract with comedy – it’s like the boxing ring. Things are permitted in the boxing ring that are not permitted on the street. It’s a virtual given – the understanding is that we have licence to play. I never intend to cause offence. My agenda is to undermine everything, including myself. A comedian is a fool as well as an upstart.”
Like many great comedians, storytelling forms the crux of Tiernan’s comedy. “It’s an important part of Irish society; a social thing, not a performance thing,” he says. “It’s the way we interact with each other.”
And after years touring and making thousands laugh, Tiernan is finding the joy in life for himself. “Comedy is a wonderful physical release,” he says. “Making people laugh, it’s a marvellous thing. The creativity of comedy – I get such a kick out of being funny.”
Tommy Tiernan’sOut Of The Whirlwindruns Thursday April 21 – Saturday April 23 at Enmore Theatre, as part of Sydney Comedy Festival 2016.
