Quantock; Left wing looney, comedic genius and someone who gives a shit!
Quantock; Left wing looney, comedic genius and someone who gives a shit!
Rod Quantock has been performing at the Melbourne Comedy Festival for well over duplet decades since its inception in 1986. He’s no stranger to the world of comedy and certainly not a stranger to the world.
From his inaugural performance at the very fist MICF with his original solo show Bus, Son of Tram, through to this year’s rousing The Insane Asylum – You’re Standing In It, Rod never fails to identify the human condition and the political climate it resides in.
“People are stupid and big corporations and the government thrive on people not being interested in what they do,” Quantock muses.
Notorious for his political activity within the comedy scene, Quantock seems to be moderately jaded and wearied by the planet. “Who isn’t?” he laughs. “It strikes me as very stupid that people know more about Justin Bieber than carbon credits, whoever Justin Bieber is. The world’s fucked,” he adds.
Once upon a time the comedian felt a little threatened and the pressure to be silent about what he believes in. While it’s not as bad now he says there was a time that he got into a lot of strife about his more left-of-field comedy. “You don’t get punched by people in car parks, you get punched by people with cheque books. Though it doesn’t happen any more because politicians have had to learn to deal with comedy.”
Comedic heroes? He doesn’t have one. Quantock wants to be Leonardo da Vinci. “Everyone should be Leonardo da Vinci but you have to get up very early and go to bed very late to be him and that’s too hard, so I gave that up a long time ago.” Drawn to his curious nature and fascinated by a man who could both cut people open and draw them he also notes science as a secret obsession. Quantock is not just a funny man it seems.
During the festival he recommends going and seeing someone that you have never even heard of. In fact, it’s your duty as an audience to do this. So support the Melbourne International Comedy Festival by seeing as many shows as you can or “I just might not let you into mine!” he jokes.
Rod Quantock performs The Insane Asylum (You’re Standing In It) at Trades Hall’s Quilt Room from March 31 – April 24. It’s at 7.15pm Tuesday – Saturday and 6.15pm on Sundays. Tickets are $20 – $28 and available through Ticketmaster online, 1300 660 013 and at the door.
