It's an equation that could spell disaster for a stand up comic - performing comedy to a sober audience, in the light of day, where swearing and any dirty topics are completely off-limits.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Clean Comedy Spectacular is new at the 2017 Canberra Comedy Festival, with a lineup of comedians performing a routine suitable for ages 12 and up. The show's host, Canberra comedian Tom Gibson, said it's a challenge he's looking forward to.
"The show is at 5pm. Usually a show is at a comedy club where it's late at night, people have been on the turps. So it's kind of everything that isn't conducive to comedy at the same time. But I like the challenge and I'm busily checking all my material for suitability," he said.
"Some guys are funny with dirty topics, that's just where their brain goes. I'm not, and I don't try to do it. A lot of people say swearing isn't funny but actually swearing is funny sometimes at the right moment. Everything can be funny in the right context. But I'm of the opinion that when you allude to things it's funnier than being explicit."
Gibson said he may use the gig as an opportunity to introduce his own kids, seven and nine, to comedy and show them what he does, although they might be some of his hardest audience members to win over.
"They know that I go out in the evenings often, for their whole lives I've been doing it, and they know comedy but I think they're intrigued as to what that actually means. I think they'd be interested to know what it looks like," he said.
"I think they think they're funnier than me. In my house of four I think I'm fourth [funniest]. Certainly my son tries. I'm the butt of the jokes in my house - they always try and one up me, but I'm persistent. I try and joke for as long as possible just to sort of crush them into laughing, that's my tactic."
As well as Gibson, the Clean Comedy Spectacular lineup includes Harris Stuckey, Lauren Duong, Dilruk Jayasinha, The Stevenson Experience and Josh Earl.
Earl is taking clean comedy even further, with his kids show Oliver Up a Tree as part of the Canberra Comedy Festival, aimed at five to twelve-year-olds. The original show on March 26 quickly sold out and a second show has been added.
"I think it's a really good show for the whole family to enjoy. Cause yes it's aimed for the kids but I think any parent would enjoy it cause it talks about things you want as a parent your kids to appreciate. So it's about community and being inquisitive and asking questions and also being nice. But it's also really funny as well," said Earl.
"And at the end of it we throw 100 teddy bears around the room so even if you haven't enjoyed the 50 minutes leading up to that, at least at the end of it you get to throw teddy bears."
The Clean Comedy Spectacular is created for ages 12 and up, although Earl said it's an approachable show for anyone wanting to get into comedy.
"It's like when you're watching a movie with your parents and a sex scene comes on - even as an adult you feel weird about it. So you can come to this comedy show and be relieved knowing there's not going to be anything in there to make anyone uncomfortable," he said.
The Clean Comedy Spectacular is on Saturday March 25 at 5pm at The Street Theatre. Tickets at canberracomedyfestival.com.au.
