Italian-Australian comedian and award-winning producer Joe Avati has put together a new show as part of this year’s Sydney Comedy Festival.
Straight Outta Compo stars Rob Shehadie and Tahir Bilgic – the guys from Here Come The Habibs and Fat Pizza – plus George Kapiniaris and Joe Avati himself.
Bilgic, 47, is Turkish-Australian and a Muslim. Shehadie, 40, is Lebanese-Australian and a Christian.
They met 18 years ago, on the set of Paul Fenech's SBS comedy Pizza, a show that also gave the world Rebel Wilson, as well as some dubious humour and memorable catchphrases ("fully sick" perhaps being the most durable).
Shehadie has created a number of shows including the hit comedy From Lebanon With Love Part 1 & 2, Lord of the Kebabs and Habib on Parole – just to name a few.
He said some of the inspiration for Straight Outta Compo has come from family life and events while growing up in western Sydney.
“Things that happen in our everyday lives can be funny if you look at it in a different perspective, and almost anything that’s multicultural works in Australian comedy,” he said.
“People from different ethnicities can relate.
“The good ol’ Anglos love wog comedy – and I love bogan comedy – everyone just loves to have a laugh.”
In the show the four funnymen perform solo stand-up routines, interspersed with skits, songs and videos about how to get rich quick without even lifting a finger.
“We believe a funny name captures the audience first, so we usually come up with a show name before we even start writing it,” Shehadie said.
“The four of us combined means there’s more than 90 years of comedy experience on one stage,” Shehadie said.
The 40-year-old said even though becoming a comedian was an accidental pathway he took in life, he still feels like he’s in his 20s – which helps in his industry.
“I’m responsible when I need to be but I’m really just a big kid,” he said.
“I just don’t take life too seriously.”
Shehadie assured Straight Outta Compo is a family-friendly show and encourages people of all ages to watch it.
“I’m excited for it. I hope all our fans from all walks of life come and watch the show at Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL,” he said.
“It’s going to be a good couple of nights!”
You can catch Straight Outta Compo on Friday and Saturday night, November 24 and 25, at the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL. Tickets: $49.90.
- Bookings: 9599 0000 or chprsl.com.au
