Troubadour Tommy

Well, maybe Tommy Tiernan wouldn’t really call himself a troubadour but one can sense when talking to him that behind the comedic mask there lies a serious poet.

I recently chatted to Tommy from Ireland about his latest tour of Australia.

I remark to Tommy that there isn’t a Tasmanian date this tour, with true comedic timing he replies he ‘must have done something awful last time!’

With that sharp wit I wonder if Tommy had ever considered another career. Tommy says he did consider a career in the priesthood but he wasn’t holy enough and that comedy became his choice because he was not ‘torn between two lovers’ and so could approach it with gusto. Comedy was the thing Tommy had a talent for.

I suspect Tommy is overly modest in not nominating a talent for anything else. As he tells me he has a great love of words, literature, reading plays and writing poetry, a way with words that goes beyond that required for a command of comedy.

In saying that it takes an extreme and quite inclusive talent to be a comedian, no joy for the thin skinned and demanding complete commitment.

Also required ‘a sensitive ear’ for the audience reaction, engagement, delivery tone, a sound story and the necessity, while not to ‘fundamentally change’ material, to manipulate and make adjustments to suit a particular audience.

And how does a comedian like Tommy prepare for a show and sharpen his craft? Tommy says he listens to other comedians. He cites Dylan Moore albums, Spike Milligan and Monty Python as all wonderful resources that put him in the comedic frame of mind.

While those classic comedians get him ready for a show, I ask Tommy what he does to relax in between comedic commitments and he tells me it can range from meditation to ‘being in the moment’ by reading his much loved poetry.

Tommy has always had a strong fan base in the Australian Irish community but encourages all those non- Irish lovers of comedy to come along to his show.

Maybe in another time and place Tommy would be a bard or a court jester for kings but in our time he is the king of jest.

Tommy Tieran ‘Out of the Whirlwind’ can be seen at the following locations:

BRISBANE QPAC CONCERT HALL SATURDAY 16 APRIL

MELBOURNE HAMER HALL SUNDAY 17 APRIL

SYDNEY ENMORE THEATRE APRIL 21,22

PERTH RIVERSIDE THEATRE MONDAY 25 APRIL
Paula Xiberras