Rhys Darby interview

You'll have probably seen Rhys Darby in films like The Boat That Rocked and Yes Man, and as Murray Hewitt in Flight Of The Conchords. The top New Zealand comic is currently touring the UK, so it's a good opportunity to ask him a couple of questions...

Hi Rhys. You're currently touring the UK... how's it going?

Good thanks. The crowds have been fantastic. The weather unfortunately has been total crap. But then I kind of knew that could be on the cards.

The show is called 'This Way to Spaceship'... has it got a sci-fi theme?

Yes. I wake up on a spaceship and spend the next hour reflecting back on my life, trying to work out how I got there. There's some pretty fancy lighting effects too and Jemaine Clement is the voice of the ship.

You've written a book of the same name to help people try and get onto one of these spaceships too. Is it really all accurate and useful advice?

Absolutely. It has become the real 'go to' book for general armageddon type situations back home, a Number 1 best seller for seven weeks in a row. Most people are taking the advice very seriously, especially the dance tips.

If you could use a spaceship to travel back in time (they've probably got that technology right?), to visit your younger self, what would you say?

I would tell myself to stay at school and head straight to university forgoing the military career. For some reason I had it in my head back then that I was going to become some amazing war tactician like Rommel. I don't know what I was thinking. I wanted to be known as The Red Fox. Still, it wasn't a complete waste of time... I did learn Morse Code: ... --- ...

New Zealand has an army? Anyway, would it be fair to speculate that if the 'future you' said you'd go on to become a movie star, you wouldn't believe, er, you?

Yes sir. We have a proud army of tough soldiers and I was one of them.

Me a movie star? Ha. I would have laughed in your face. Movies and Hollywood seemed like 'a dream too far' for a simple boy from Pakuranga.

How did you make the transition from the military to stand-up then? Another NZ comic told us there's not really a circuit to cut your teeth on?

Oh there is now. Back in the day I transitioned into it through university, after I left the army. University comedy competitions, and performing in Christchurch pubs for free beer.

Nice. When you first travelled to the UK, what were your impressions of the comedy scene here?

I thought it was massive and exciting. It still is, and the audiences have always been very switched on. You can't drop the ball over here because they'll grab it and throw it back at your face.

Talking of performing in the UK: aside from your tour, you're also on telly appearing in Mad Mad World as a team captain. Recording a whole series of a panel show can be a slog... how did you find it?

It was fine. It was a lot of fun. I met some great people... and one or two dicks.

We won't ask you to name names! We've managed to make it all the way through this chat without mentioning Flight Of The Conchords... now we're going to blow that by enquiring whether you get fed up of that title following you everywhere?

I kind of expect it. It's the thing that made me famous. I'll always be proud of it and it's up to me to step out from behind its shadow and create something that is just as memorable. Watch this space.   <----- this one here.

Good answer. Cheers Rhys! All the best with the rest of your tour!

To find out where Rhys will be appearing on tour visit ents24.com