Hansen says, ‘‘I think we sort of figured Chris Taylor and I were probably as talented as half a performer each so getting one meant a complete result. We thought it was a funny idea – a two-man show called a one-man show.’’

Even his mother doesn’t understand, he says.

‘‘She says, ‘But you’re both performing it’. I don’t know how to answer that.’’

But, he says, she is ‘‘amazingly supportive’’ even if she doesn’t seem to comprehend quite what it is he does.

So what will he – and Taylor – be doing?

‘‘It’s something Chris and I have been wanting to do for years ... There will be a lot of silly songs and sketches ... and jokes in very bad taste.’’

Hansen says: ‘‘We might feature a tribute to Rolf Harris, one of our great national heroes who’s been going through some interesting times.’’

There will be a Game of Thrones parody and a Kevin Rudd impression. Will these be combined? We will have to wait and see.

Fans of their work will have an idea what to expect. And it is safe to say it is not a show for the easily offended.

The Chaser has been going for more than a decade – as a newspaper, website, and TV comedy team – with various changes of membership along the way.

Hansen and Taylor have worked together on non-Chaser projects before: writing the musical parody Dead Caesar for the Sydney Theatre Company and winning an ARIA award for their musical comedy album The Blow Parade.

But this is something a bit different, creating a show with comedy and music and touring it around Australia.

Hansen says he loves absurdist comedy – ‘‘I’m a big fan of [Monty] Python, The Goodies, The League of Gentlemen, South Park’’ – and while he appreciates satirical shows such as The Colbert Report and The Daily Show, he’s not as avid a consumer of them as some of his colleagues.

‘‘Chris is the most eclectic of all – he eats up any kind of comedy and he is able to write anything at all,’’ he says. ‘‘He’s the strongest writer in the group.’’

And Hansen is the composer: ‘‘I’m the one who can play three or four chords.’’

Most of the songs for The Chaser’s shows are written by Hansen and Taylor, which was another reason he wanted to do One Man Show, to have more opportunity for the musical side of comedy.

Hansen enjoys live theatre – ‘‘you can see the response from the audience’’ – and says he is looking forward to performing again in the national capital. ‘‘Canberra in particular is always a good fun audience – people in Canberra are very switched on,’’ he says.

While the other members of The Chaser team – Julian Morrow, Chas Licciardello and Craig Reucassel – are working on various projects at present they will all be together again in the second half of the year for a new TV show.

What will it be?

‘‘I’ve no idea yet – it still isn’t really thought out,’’ Hansen says.

‘‘All the guys will reunite unless one of us completely goes off the rails ... Nobody can tell us apart. Even if it’s not the full team we seem to be interchangeable.’’

ONE MAN SHOW
Laughing Stock Productions. Not suitable for children. The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre, Thursday, March 6, 7.30pm. Tickets $42/$38. Bookings: canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.