United Laughs

“So an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman walk into a bar...” Yes, we have all heard that line before. It usually prefaces some hack joke that ends with heads being shaken in disappointment. Well never fear, because the upcoming comedy night, An Englishman, An Irishman & A Scotsman is sure to dispel any preconceived notions of what these countries can offer comedy-wise and dish up a good dose of laughs.

Featuring Gavin Webster from England, Ian Coppinger from Ireland and Vladimir McTavish from Scotland with English comedian Jeff Green as MC, this one-night-only show of international comedy is now becoming quite popular amongst Perth audiences. Landing in Perth a few weeks prior to the show to spend time with his Perth girlfriend, Coppinger says he is looking forward to getting on stage. “I arrived over a couple of weeks earlier than the other lads just to hang out and enjoy the rain, it makes me feel like I'm home. I haven't done too many shows in Perth actually so I am dying for it, can't wait. It will be very fun,” he enthuses.

Coppinger says he had heard about the show from a friend who had been involved in 2010 and decided that he wanted in on the action. “Jeff Green is an English comedian who married an Aussie girl and is now based in Melbourne. He came up with the idea a few years ago of doing the English, Irish, Scottish show. A friend of mine, Karl Spain, did it a few years ago and he said it was fantastic so after Karl did it, I decided that I would ask Jeff if I could do it. He asked me last year but I was doing the Adelaide Festival at the same time, so I booked in last year to do it this year.”

Coppinger says that while he has worked with Webster and McTavish before overseas, it will be good to work with them on Aussie soil. “We are all good mates. We have known each other for a few years. With this type of show you look at it and hope everyone does really well. You are really supportive of everyone. Although you don't want anyone to be funnier than you… just slightly less funnier than you.”

Coppinger says while he expects some Irish ex-pats to be in the audience, he is looking forward to being in front of an Australian audience. “I always like Irish audiences because they will get my references but the way Australia is becoming at the moment, there seems to be a lot of Irish here anyways. I have done a few shows around different parts of Australia and I find Australian audiences to be great, really up for it. I have been developing a couple of jokes, mainly about the Aussie lifestyle. I'm really looking forward to it.”

Coppinger says that technically audiences will actually be getting two Englishmen with the addition of Green who will be MC for the evening. With such a continually solid line up, he says the Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman brand is building and promises quality international comedy. “Jeff is such a great comedian, so there are actually four of us on. It is just going to be brilliant. People should go to live comedy, it is so much better than seeing it on television. Being part of the room like that, it exists only for that one night and it has a great energy to it that people adore.

“The organisers are building a lovely brand with it and more and more people are getting to know about it as word of mouth spreads; it is a great idea. And it's cold and it's rainy out, so come inside and laugh.”