Published on April 5th, 2022 | by Andrew Bistak
Big Big Big Interview – Catching Jack @micomfestiva @bigbigbigcomedy
Before the next pandemic, zombie apocalypse or alien invasion, we catch-up with Big Big Big before we’re thrown into another lockdown!
Welcome to Impulse Gamer! So tell us what are you most looking forward to the MICF?
Mouth kissing every audience member, one by one. “Comedy is back!” we’ll say, “the arts are alive!”
COVID, Pandemic, Lockdowns… how did you survive?
We could have learned to code or something useful. But we didn’t.
Instead, we made a scripted podcast series called The Candyman. The whole thing is just six episodes, and is a true crime parody about what really happened to the five children who toured Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.
And your funniest lockdown story (if that’s possible)?
Once you hit hour three on the Centrelink website (usually at 1am, because you heard that if you did it in the night there’d be less website traffic and therefore less chance of it crashing as you upload a years worth of bank statements) – the frustration transitions to complete and utter clarity like you’ve never experienced before.
We all met God at 1am on the Centrelink website, and they said… “Big Big Big, this will be your funniest lockdown story.”
Tell us a little about your new show, CATCHING JACK?
It’s a very silly sketch show in which three detectives and one rat attempt to hunt down Jack The Ripper – The Mighty Boosh meets Sherlock Holmes.
We’ve got a big old mystery, we’ve got a pinboard with red string, we’ve got an usher called Lantern Man who screams at the audience – what else could you possibly want?
Where did you get your inspiration from?
We each grew up watching content like Monty Python, The Mighty Boosh and 30 Rock. All three of us each have our own particular comedy touchstones and taste, so when we get to mesh and combine what we love – it’s a bloody treat.
What do you think will resonate most to your audience about CATCHING JACK?
This is historical revisionism at its finest!!! If you’d like to see someone in a big rat costume, it’s the perfect night out for you!!!!
Compared to other festivals, what makes the Melbourne International Comedy Festival so different?
In the past we’ve performed at Fringe Festivals where our sketch comedy show is completely at odds with a lot of the rest of the programming. We love that MICF is pure comedy, with hundreds of shows whose sole aim is to make you chuckle. No circus acts. No magicians. Finally, peace.
Who are you most looking forward to catching up or seeing at the MICF 2022?
Gabbi Bolt is going to sell out the moment her run begins, so if we can snag three coveted seats in her room, that’d be great. If not, we’ll hold a cup against a nearby wall and take turns listening through it.
Lastly, how would you sum up your show in a Tweet?
Absurd sketch. Mystery. Big Ben. We don’t tweet often. Can you tell.