After more than 60 years of holding the mirror to Australia through his iconic characters, Barry Humphries will give Geelong a look behind the mask.
The legendary comedian spins the mirror around to reveal “the man behind the clown” when he comes to Geelong Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) on 2 June.
“It is really about this character called me. I’m not in disguise,” the 84-year-old said.
“In a way, this is perhaps the bravest thing I’ve ever done and, I hope, the most entertaining.
“I think people might be agreeably shocked and they certainly will learn much they didn’t know.”
Humphries has spent the better part of his life playing the world-famous Dame Edna Everage and Aussie icons Sir Les Paterson and Sandy Stone.
In his latest tour he instead looks at himself, remembering his childhood, relationships and career as one of the world’s most acclaimed entertainers.
“This is a show in which I am the principal character – it’s not Les, it’s not Edna, it’s not Sandy Stone,” he said.
The show would feature highly personal, sometimes startling and occasionally outrageous stories, he said.
“It is the story of my generation, it is a story of a life spent in the theatre and a life spent in comedy, and it will show of what it is like to be a clown.”
But it could be hard to keep Edna, Les and Sandy from making cheeky appearances, even in show dedicated to their less flamboyant alter-ego, Humphries admitted.
“They may intrude,” he hinted. “I might be interrupted. I might even be upstaged!
“Audio-visual technology has made dramatic strides in my life and it’s now possible for me to be on stage with one of my own characters.”
Humphries had retired from “relentlessly touring” but was looking forward to introducing Australians to a new phase in his creative life, he said.
“I’m enjoying myself on stage more than ever, thanks to my dear friend, the Australian audience.”
He promised audiences a solo performance filled with laughter, drama and surprise, and the chance to ask questions after.
“I’m rather proud of what I’ve done in my career,” he said.
“It’s constantly surprising, it’s very stimulating and it’s wonderful to look back on, and to look forward to. “It’s still going strong, and with a vengeance.”
Humphries will perform the two intimate, confessional shows at GPAC at 2pm and 8pm on 2 June.
