Quiet time for zany comedian

HANNAH FLEMING

For a performer who doesn't speak, Sam Wills has managed to sound out quite the career.

The Timaru-born comedian, internationally recognised as The Boy With Tape On His Face, will perform today in Auckland as part of the International Comedy Festival.

"The Boy" was invented in 2005, after Wills won the Billy T James Award for a circus-style, prop- comedy show he was performing in Auckland.

"Everyone then expected me to continue doing more tricks and more talking, so I decided to do something that would surprise everyone, and do a silent act."

It was harder than he thought it would be, says Wills, who ruined his first show by talking to the front row after 30 seconds.

"I went back the next night with a big hunk of tape across my mouth to get rid of the urge to talk, and it grew from there."

Wills' show incorporates everyday props, and relies heavily on audience participation.

It is something which usually sees people run for the hills.

"People automatically freak out," Wills says.

"They have that instant panic of 'Oh my god, I don't wanna go to the show, I don't wanna sit in the front row, don't pick me, don't pick me'."

He says that reaction is something he has been tirelessly working on changing.

"Whenever I ask people on stage, they're always celebrated, no one's ever embarrassed."

Wills describes 2011 as being one of his best years after performing at the Royal Variety Show alongside Barry Manilow and childhood heroes Penn and Teller.

He also performed in the Comedy Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London with full orchestral backing, a gig he describes as spectacular.

More recently, he filmed a pilot for a TV series on BBC, The Tape Face Tapes.

The best thing about performing as a mute he says, is being able to take your show anywhere without having to worry about learning other languages.

"When I was in Norway the whole show was in Norwegian. I just listened for my name, then walked out and got things going," he laughs.

Wills says the most important part of his show is of course, the tape, which has to be the same brand every time.

"I ship it from Australia to New Zealand, then get my parents to ship it to me in the UK."

He describes his show as being universally humorous and says he often generates a similar reaction no matter where he is in the world - besides Scotland.

"They tend to be pretty up for it as a culture. I did a show last year which involved a strip routine and a guy in Glasgow took his trousers off. It was quite spectacular."

Although being silent was hard work, Wills says he won't be giving up his identity as The Boy With Tape On His Face anytime soon.

"At the moment I still get a kick out of it. I enjoy my quiet time on stage."

- © Fairfax NZ News