To put it kindly, the world’s in an interesting socio-political situation right now. Fear and greed seem to overrule reason, corruption feels rife and no one seems willing to accept the responsibility of ethical leadership. The outlook is dire, but luckily, Mark Swivel has the courage, determination and – most importantly – a snazzy ten-point plan to help him run for the top job.
“It’s part of the theme of the show, generally, to save the nation from itself,” Swivel says. “It’s very difficult doing political satire at the moment, of course, when the real thing is so much funnier than anything a comedian could come up with.
The ‘Ten Point Plan To Create A Country Worth Living In’ will be “embargoed” until the opening night of his new show Alternative Prime Minister, of course, but highlights include a flag tax, a Ministry Of Cricket, and a policy Swivel’s “very committed to” called the “Responsible Service of Capitalism”. A takedown of our nation’s more absurd political machinations in the tradition of Mark Steel or the late John Clarke, Swivel blames it on a friend he exchanges political banter with on Facebook who jokingly encouraged him to run for Prime Minister.
“He’s got to me, I guess,” Swivel says. “It’s all to do with Saul. I don’t think anyone would actually want to be Prime Minister. There’s an old saying: ‘Power should only be given to those people who really, really don’t want it’. I think that’s the only basis on which anyone would give me power, for sure. I blame Saul. I blame my man Saul.
“There was a long period of mourning in our house when the sainted Mr. John Clarke passed away,” Swivel continues. “A long period of mourning, which continues – I’m wearing black right now, as a gesture of respect. I would hope that at its best I’m heading in the direction of that sort of comedy. That’s what we’re looking at, that style: a kind of mordant – but warm, ultimately – humour that rips the shit out of everything, but just wants to bring people together in a beautiful way.”
It’s Swivel’s third year at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where he’ll be both performing in Alternative Prime Minister and appearing as part of the hybrid game and panel show extravaganza Rhubarb with Kate Jenkinson, Pinky Beecroft and more. Swivel will be packing twists galore in his own show, featuring surprise song choices, hula hoops, Venn diagrams and a “truly appalling” folk ballad he wrote at 13 years old. Armed with a sharp and sardonic wit, Swivel’s ready to make a difference – for all of us.
“I try to convince the audience that I’m unfit for public office. But as we all know, being unfit for office is practically compulsory these days,” Swivel says.
