After 50 years, Rod’s still standing up to be counted

AUSTRALIA’S most seriously funny comedian, stand-up pioneer Rod Quantock, has been making people laugh for half a century, and he’s set to do it in Tasmania again next week.

After starting his career began with a low-profile role in the West Coburg Baptist Church’s 1954 nativity play, Quantock first performed professional stand-up comedy in 1968, with the Melbourne Herald reviewer describing him as an “amiable buffoon”.

Over the next 20 years he would help establish the art of stand-up comedy in Australia, becoming a household name in the early 1980s thanks to his work on ABC TV’s groundbreaking series Australia, You’re Standing In It.

Quantock was soon selling out live shows across the country, as audiences clamoured for his intelligent, relentless and hilarious political material.

Tackling the world’s problems head-on, these days Quantock is a passionate environmental activist and social justice advocate. So when he talks, you know it’s about something of substance — he just may be holding a rubber chicken while saying it.

This year, Quantock marked the 50th anniversary of his first foray into comedy by performing a solo show, Happy Birthday to Me, at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Now he’s returning to Hobart next week, to headline Jokers Comedy Club at the Polish Corner in New Town from 8pm on Wednesday. Quantock will be joined by Launceston comedian Kerri Gay, local support Chloe Black and Jokers host Gavin Baskerville.

Tickets are $23.30 pre-sale from www.jokerscomedy.com.au and Centertainment (phone 6234 5998), or $25 at the door (if not already sold out).

Rod Quantock