There's a Nigerian comedian with a "grand" British accent on the other end of the phone speaking from "Bris-Vegas" about Australian politics and homosexuality.
"Here in Australia there is a prime minister who is not supporting same-sex marriage, yet she herself is not married and has a partner who is a hairdresser."
Stephen K Amos is in Australia doing the comedy circuit before he heads to New Zealand later this month and he's finding our neighbours across the ditch rather amusing.
"You must have heard about the recent battle for the leadership of the Labor Party here in Australia where the prime minister was nearly toppled by the man she toppled a couple of years ago? It's dominated the news. It's hilarious."
The stand-up comedian and television host from the UK will be including his Aussie observations in his show, Laughter Is My Agenda, at the New Zealand Comedy Festival, and I can vouch that Amos pulls off a corker Aussie accent.
Can he do a Kiwi one? "I can only do a New Zealand accent if I am in Noo Zulund. It kind of veers into South African and bad Australian. I have to really hear it a lot before I can nail it."
His shows are known for their audience participation and animated anecdotes on life as Stephen K Amos (the K is for Kehinde). "I will be telling you jokes on my observations from Australia and the UK, and of course things that happened in my life. It's going to be semi- autobiographical, full of insights on what makes us who we are and ultimately what gives us our own agendas."
The British comedian is one of eight children. His parents emigrated from Nigeria in the 60s and Amos has been outspoken in his resistance to being pigeonholed.
"Anyone who describes me, and it has happened, as a 'gay black comic' gives someone who has never seen me before an impression of what I may be like on stage which is completely false."
Describe yourself then. "I am very optimistic. I've got a very healthy, positive disposition. I have got good faith in humanity and I am an all-round good guy," he says off the bat.
Amos became the accidental spokesman for gay rights in the UK after a public "coming out" on stage in 2006. The reaction came as a surprise, as he didn't see his sexuality as a secret.
"I mentioned something on stage and I didn't really expect the kind of 'Oh my god, he's come out.' In my eyes I was never in.
"All my friends knew what I was about and who I am. When I was doing my comedy it wasn't really something I would address because it wasn't at the forefront of my mind."
Or, he believed, that of his audiences. "When you do comedy around the world, the first thing people do is they look at you and they judge you. In my case, a six foot two black man with a British accent. Some people are confused by that, so that's what I address first and foremost."
Despite this, Amos has embraced the role and hopes his obvious comfort with his sexuality will inspire others.
"If people who are scared, frightened, in hiding or young people who are confused see me, a very confident, masculine guy, being honest and open about who and what I am, then yes, I'll take that on as something I am proud of." But "to be labelled and put in a box is the worst thing that can happen to anybody, because I personally don't believe in labels. I think we all have our spirit and our souls and our destiny and we change over the course of time".
A comedian for 17 years, Amos has done his fair share of changing; from a gregarious young law student plucked from obscurity to performing "jazz hands" in a London comedy club, he has forged a sophisticated career on stage and television.
It was on a holiday in the US almost two decades ago that he met the owner of a London comedy club. The meeting changed his life forever. "She said to me, 'You are a funny bloke, why don't you do comedy?' "
"I'm not spiritual or religious or anything like that, but I do believe people come in to your life for different reasons and show you the way and I had a gut instinct about her and she had a gut instinct about me, and the rest is history."
His style has changed over time to include strong audience interaction and reflections on his own life.
"I can't even begin to tell you about how embarrassed I am about the first comedy sets I was doing all those years ago, but you find a voice and you are constantly adapting.
"I used to be very much jazz hands, jazz hands, look at me, aren't I funny?
"Then I started talking about my own life and bringing that to the forefront, my own real life experiences and making them funny and I found my niche, I found a voice."
Amos, who has not been in New Zealand for two years, says Laughter is My Agenda will do just that. "It's going to be semi- autobiographical - full of insights of what makes us who we are and what ultimately gives us our own agendas."
While here he hopes to catch Dai Henwood, Michelle A'Court and her partner, Jeremy Elwood.
"I think Dai is different, very funny, quick, I really enjoyed him. There is a good healthy comedy scene in New Zealand. I'm looking forward to coming back."
Amos, who tours at least four months of every year, will be bringing his partner of eight months with him.
"He makes me laugh and we are very, very silly. People say you are a certain age, you need to dress and behave this way, in my eyes, no, no, no, we're still got that mad childlike innocence and we giggle.
"Maybe it's because it's the first months of relationship. I am sure we annoy other people who watch us giggling like goons but at the moment it works for me."
Stephen K Amos's show, Laughter is My Agenda, plays Auckland's SkyCity theatre on April 28 and May 1 and 2 at 7pm. He performs at Wellington's Opera House on April 30 at 7pm. Tickets from Ticketek, details at comedyfestival.co.nz or stephenkamos.com.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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