Sam Simmons is no stranger to Launceston.
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The comedian, whose CV includes awards at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and the Helpmann Awards, is also no fan of puppets – a fact that could make his appearance at this year’s Fresh Comedy Gala an interesting one.
“I’m looking forward to everything other than Randy,” he said.
“My main issue with him is that he’s a puppet.”
Launceston-bound for the 2019 Fresh Comedy Gala in October, Simmons will share the stage with the likes of Judith Lucy, Gillian English, 2018 Most Popular New Talent Logie winner Dilruk Jayasinha, plus a number of Tasmanian supports.
Also performing will be Randy Feltface, and Simmons has message for the popular purple character.
“I’m going to bring a puppet and out-puppet the puppet,” he said.
“Tell Randy it’s on.
“It’s on, one and only for Launceston.”
Right now, Simmons is in between festivals, writing TV – including series two of the ABC’s Squinters – and planning for a Christmas tour to London.
Despite all this, he says he has “no trumpets to blow.”
“I mean I’ve got plenty of stuff going on but I’m no Ewan Macgregor.”
Simmon’s comedy has been called daring and unconventional, the effect of an ability he has for rubbing people the wrong way.
“I’m pretty good at that apparently,” he said.
“I know I’m abrupt, but I’m a sweet dude.”
This will not be the first time Simmons has brought his comedy to town either.
During a previous visit – a 2015 iteration of Fresh Comedy, held at Fresh On Charles – the comedian remembers the venue fondly.
“Fresh was an amazing vegetarian restaurant, and I’m not even a vegetarian.”
While in Tasmania this time around, Simmons says he also plans to find a nice wine somewhere before travelling south to Hobart.
The trip is not just a casual drive, however, he plans to visit a particular pie shop serving scallop pies he says he can’t find anywhere else.
“I don’t know what it’s called, but I know where it is.”
The 2019 Fresh Comedy Gala will take place on Friday, October 5 at the Tramsheds Function Centre in Launceston.
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Matt Dennien
Matt Dennien is a journalist at The Examiner, based in Launceston. Contact him via email at matt.dennien@examiner.com.au, or more securely via Signal on +61 437 672 994.
Matt Dennien is a journalist at The Examiner, based in Launceston. Contact him via email at matt.dennien@examiner.com.au, or more securely via Signal on +61 437 672 994.
