Raising the Curtain

Wil Anderson was not a funny kid. While the class clowns around him sought to trigger giggles, the Melbournian, who now rates as one of Australia's top comics, had more serious things in mind &emdash; he wanted to address world issues. On leaving school, Wil started work as a journalist, first for the Australian Financial Review and then the Herald Sun, before quitting after three-and-a-half years. "I had all these ideas of what I wanted to write about and talk about, but because of the constrictions of the press I didn't get to do it." It wasn't until one of his friends suggested stand-up comedy that Wil found his vocation. "Up on stage you can say anything you want &emdash; it is free speech." After leaving his job, Wil spent six months doing part-time jobs to pay his bills."I contemplated keeping comedy as a hobby but realised that it would never then become a career," he said. "I didn't want a full-time job to fall back on, because that way I knew I would never make it." His plan worked. Two years later he sold out at the 1998 Adelaide Fringe Festival and at two Melbourne Comedy Festival seasons, and now he enjoys a high media profile as a regular on Triple J's Breakfast Show and Good News Week. After coining his home market, Wil is trying his luck in Edinburgh. It is his first international appearance. "When I got here, I asked myself why I came. It is rainy, one English pound is worth about five million Australian dollars, and when you walk down the street there are a thousand other shows and no one has heard of you. "But all of this is important for a creative artist. It is exciting, challenging and scary. "In Melbourne you know that people will come, they know and like you. There is a certain degree of trust. "But, you can't be safe and be a good comedian, I think you need to challenge yourself, otherwise you get a little bit lazy." Even though Wil is thousands of miles from home, he has found that there is a strong sub-community of Australian comics, most of whom have been poached by The Gilded Balloon &emdash; a comedy venue which prides itself on finding new and diverse acts. "Karen Koren (The Gilded Balloon's artist director) saw me at the Melbourne Festival, and invited me over." Since arriving he has caught up with his Australian peers. "We are like a family, in that you love each other and hate each other. You judge each other very harshly but it is only because you respect each other. "In Australia it does get a bit bitchy, but out here we group together and bitch about everyone else!" Wil's show has universal appeal. Starting out with the question, "What would you do if there was an hour to go before the end of the world?", he encourages his audience to help set the tone of the evening. "They get the show they want; if you just want five minutes of fun you'll get it, but if you want more it is also there," he explained. This is where Wil's journalistic background plays to his advantage. With a good grasp of current affairs his show is quick-witted and topical. "I take something from the news and use it as a kick-off point to illustrate an issue." Wil has three weeks in which to shine above the mass. Although he hopes to raise his international status, he is realistic about his future. "Edinburgh is a two to three year proposition. In the first year, you are just laying the groundwork. Hopefully people will like the show and then come back again next year." Wil is already reaping rewards of a different kind. "I have learnt a lot in the couple of days that I have been over here. I am learning from my mistakes, and if you look at it this way you can't have a bad festival." http://www.southerncross.co.uk/issue/565/cover_story.html