The Comics' Comics: Who Are The Comedy Greats Who Inspired The Stand-Ups Of Today?

Daniel Sloss
So? 30 Mar - 21 Apr Taxi Riverside

I remember trying to fall asleep when I was 7 years old. I was in my room, upstairs, and I could hear my dad laughing his ass off downstairs and I wanted to know why. So I pretended not to feel well and went downstairs and he was watching Live at the Apollo with Jack Dee. I didn't understand everything he was saying, but he swore a lot and that made me laugh - and that made my dad laugh. After that, I was hooked.

David O'Doherty
Big Time, 30 Mar - 2 Apr Forum Theatre

The Dublin stand-up scene in the mid-90s was incredible. Also, they didn't ask you for ID to prove you were over 18 to get a drink, but mostly I went along to see the shows. Dylan Moran, Tommy Tiernan, Ardal O'Hanlon. Then I saw Mitch Hedberg at the 1998 Kilkenny Comedy Festival and that was something else.

Stuart Goldsmith
Compared To What, 30 Mar - 2 Apr Greek Centre

My biggest inspiration was British comedian Simon Munnery, whose ability to think sideways and come up with aphorisms like, "If you only ever read one book in your life, I strongly recommend you keep your mouth shut", absolutely blows me away. My other big inspirations were the street performers in Covent Garden. They taught me that humour can be found in anything, anywhere; from stealing a bin lorry to flipping the bird at a toddler.

Tessa Waters
Fully Sik, 30 Mar - 23 Apr Greek Centre

For little Tessa growing up in a hippie school in country Queensland, it was bold and brassy Judith Lucy on The Late Show, combined with the ridiculous and glamorous Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy re-runs) that inspired me to go after a life in comedy. These women were outrageous and hilarious and appeared to give zero shits, which is totally how I aim to live my life and make my comedy now.