It’s been all hustle for comedy and social media sensation, Frenchy, who spent the first half of the year performing his new stand-up show, Frenchy Unleashed, to various sold out crowds at the likes of Adelaide Fringe Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
And it appears there’s no stopping for the Aussie Larrikin, who is now set to share the love with some of the more regional centers of Australia.
“It’s been so much fun. The festivals have always got a great vibe about them. It [the touring] was earlier in the year, so my show was a bit more rough, but now I’ve had time to perfect it,” says Frenchy of the time spent touring Frenchy Unleashed so far.
Frenchy admits that while he hasn’t done extensive regional touring, he has particularly enjoyed the energy of crowds at the regional shows he has performed at.
“Depending on how small the city is, sometimes they [the audience] all know each other. And so, it’s really strange, but I just start chatting to the crowd and stuff and it’s really cool,” he explains, “Everyone knows everyone, or everyone has dated someone’s friend, something like that… I also find regional towns are a bit more up for, like, I can be a little bit more rude and that definitely suits my style.”
It was perhaps a keen interest in the viewing of the Comedy Galas as a young boy, that inspired Frenchy to pursue a career as a comedian. But also, a strong desire to eventually lose his virginity.
“I used to watch the Melbourne Galas and Arj Barker and Carl Barron always killed it and I loved it, I’d tape it on a little VCR and rewind it all the time. But then, in conjunction with that, I was very bad with girls and I just thought it would be really nice to lose my virginity one day,” he laughs, “And I thought this might be the way to help… and it hasn’t helped yet, but fingers crossed.”
Frenchy is known to be a prolific writer, writing and creating his own original YouTube content on a regular basis.
“It really does [come naturally],” explains Frenchy of how he sources inspiration for his content. “I try not to force anything, so if I get an idea, I just write it down and then I sort of flesh it out. But it’s generally all things from my life.“I made this video called ‘Death of a Mate’ and it’s where all the boys throw a funeral for their mate, because he gets a girlfriend and stops hanging out with them. And I made that specifically because that exact friend got a girlfriend and moved out and stopped hanging out with me.”
The 17-date regional tour kicks off later this month and continues into early November. With what has been described as his ‘charming, self-deprecating humour’, Frenchy has come to woo audiences, while achieving critical acclaim. In the words of Frenchy, “come for the comedy, stay for the shoeys.”
“I’m just excited to get down and do some shows,” exclaims Frenchy, “And some shoeys, I love shoeys. But the problem is people have started bringing shoes for me to do it and I had someone in New Zealand bring me a gumboot…”
Leave your gumboots at home, folks. An old worn out Converse shoe should surely suffice! Tickets available via the venue.
When & Where: Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Geelong – 21 September & Capital Theatre, Bendigo – 21 October
Written by Helena Metzke
