You are probably already familiar with Tommy Little. The well-loved comic has saturated Australian media since a young age, writing and starring in television shows as well as appearing on panels and most recently – his successful breakfast radio show. However, comedy has always been the cornerstone of everything he does. Having sold out his runs in previous years, the 2016 incarnation is looking to be no exception.
Late last year, Little became disenfranchised with his career. He became “really quite pessimistic. [With] heaps of shows cancelled…while it keeps you on your toes, you start to learn everything is shit.” The ups and downs of his career got the better of him, and the result was a mild quarter-life crisis, with the high points of the year including identity fraud and going overseas to a health retreat that he escaped from 24 hours later. It culminated with his decision to “quit radio to do something new,” he says. “Not listen to shit pop tunes, or have to wake up at four in the morning.
Fortunately for little, the quarter-life crisis caused a reboot of sorts. He thought back to his first acting class experiences where he “tried to do drama, but everyone laughed”.
It offered a chance to explore talents of the past, and since he has had so many trials and tribulations this year, it proved the perfect chance to inform a new routine. Consequently, his new stand-up show Dickhead was born. Plus, he says this way “dick jokes can pay for the apartment.” Little has always been a Melbourne favourite. Although, he acknowledges that his family will most likely be absent from the audience. “They have had to put up with this for thirty years now. They are over it,” he laughs “They will stay home to not get abused,” Ultimately, Little is ready to unleash his latest at MICF.
“Life lessons will not be learned,” he says on the Dickhead hour. “If you giggle at the title, you’ll love it. If you hate musicals then you’ll love it. And if you don’t like it, go see a musical.”
By Julie Carli
Venue: Forum Theatre – Downstairs, Cnr Flinders & Russell St, CBD.
Dates: March 24 – April 3 (except Mondays)
Times: 7pm from March 24 – April 3 (Sundays 6pm), 8.15pm from April 5 – 17 (Sundays 7.15pm)
