Arj Barker is the epitome of everything hilarious and wonderfully wicked
Arj Barker is the epitome of everything hilarious and wonderfully wicked at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and is set to once again delight Australian audiences with his bold and offhand brand of comedy this April. Qualifying for Australian citizenship any day now, this lovable rouge of snappy and fresh comedic styling is set to split our sides in his new show Eleven where he will tackle eleven of the most controversial topics around, because sometimes, “ten just isn’t enough.”
Trying to stay healthy, exercise and basically live his life, “exactly the opposite of Charlie Sheen,” Arj is working out and working up to what he claims to be one of his best shows, if not his best show yet.
A familiar face on the international comedy circuit, Arj Barker has recruited fans far and wide, and loves the thrill of living life as an international comedian. “You never get stuck in one place; it’s always changing. New environment, new group of people, new city, new country. It keeps you from ever getting bored, even though it’s not always 100 per cent fun all the time.”
Arj is a self-proclaimed lover of Australia, and is a great admirer of the laid back Australian attitude toward life. “They’re kind of laid back about stuff here. I’ve gotten on so many flights where they haven’t even looked at my ID. It’s sort of like they’re not that worried about anything out here. I like that attitude. The ‘nothing bad could ever happen out here’ attitude. It’s a good way to be, that’s how people should be. I’d rather be happy and suddenly get blown up than be nervous.”
If Arj’s previous shows are anything to go by, Eleven is set to be a cracker, and he couldn’t be more happy to once again be gracing the stages of Melbourne, surrounded by many of the comedian friends he has made on the comedy circuit. “I’m friends with most of them; I know most of these guys from years of working together, so it’s just like being at summer camp for alcoholics. And some recovering alcoholics.”
The hilarious Mr. Barker is cooking up an uproarious comedic storm for this year’s festival, and is seeking to venture off the beaten track of comedy and sift through some topics he rarely sees explored by other stand up comics.
“I wanted to address topics that other comedians stayed away from for various reasons. For that reason I chose issues like relationships, dogs, the environment, nudity… basically there’s nothing that’s off limits for me. I’m trying to push the boundaries, and I’m not afraid if people are intimidated by that.”
Arj shies away from giving away too much about his upcoming show, preferring to just tease and tantalize about what’s to come.
“I don’t want to give away the whole show. I’d rather tell you that this show is one of my best shows, if not my best show yet. Everyone seems to like it. There are parts that are meaningful, and there are some goofy parts. There are a few jokes, I tried to write the show with no pre-jokes, but they always seem to get in there somehow. Sometimes I have an immature sense of humour, but it’s a good show you know, I think people are going to like it. I wrote some new songs for this show. They’re very short, but they’re cool.”
Arj Barker performs Eleven at the Melbourne Town Hall with from March 31 – April 24. The show is at 7.45pm on Mondays and 9.15pm on every other day except Thursday March 31 at 7.30pm and Saturday April 9 at 9.30pm. Tickets are $35 – 442 and available through Ticketmaster online and 1300 660 013 as well as on the door.
Emma Woodall
