Sam Campbell interview

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Thursday 21st July 2016

It's approaching midnight in Latitude's cabaret tent, lovingly curated on Friday night by the Soho Theatre, and one of the more extraordinary performances at this happening-packed festival is kicking off. Sam Campbell has no props or gimmicks, just a jaunty new hat, this being the cabaret tent, but he's keeping this late-night audience on the edge of their lack-of-seats.

Some of the punters who've wandered in from the main stages do look a bit baffled by the hyper-tense Aussie, admittedly, but even with a varied array of other attractions on offer around the site, it's noticeable that even the more bewildered spectators aren't leaving. Most are absolutely mesmerised.

"Oh wow that's crazy that you saw that!" says Campbell, over email a few days later. "I was very frightened. Did you actually like it? I think the hour will be a very different atmosphere. I will not be frightened I WILL BE POWERFUL AND DYNAMIC. There is an egg in the show and hopefully nobody will leave this time either."

Which is very much how Campbell sounds onstage too, equal parts nervous wreck and MIGHTY WARRIOR. As anyone who was there is fully aware (him shouting, it became a running gag), that Latitude show was his UK DEBUT, and he's now moving on to the Soho Theatre itself from July 26th to 30th, before heading up to Scotland as part of the theatre's 17-act roster for the Edinburgh Fringe, with Campbell taking residence in the Assembly Roxy from August 3rd. It's a lovely image, all 17 of those acts traveling up together in one big multi-talented Soho Theatre minibus.

Campbell arrives in the UK having made a big impact in Oz over the last few years, winning Best Newcomer at last year's Sidney Comedy Festival, then the Director's Choice award at the Melbourne International Comedy fest earlier this year. Which was good going. So where did he get started? Was he inspired by anyone in particular? "DOING THE OPEN MIC SCENE IN BRISBANE IN AUSTRALIA WOOHOO!!!" he says. "I remember the first time I saw the great guy Nick Sun it had a big impact on me, for a while he would lay down on the stage and squirm about."

Campbell's own style is also admirably idiosyncratic - he even takes our email interview in a bold new direction, dropping one of our questions for one of his own: Why do you have such a perfect smile? "Well, they say practice makes perfect," he replies, to himself, "so I try to do at least two hundred smiles every day."

Sounds like a good name for a future Edinburgh show, and his current one features all sorts of odd goings-on, beginning with an increasingly sinister song called Mum vs Dads. Campbell is still a relative newcomer, having kicked off in 2010, but he's certainly found his comic voice. "I am always learning new sneaky little tricks" he says.

So how would he describe how his comedy works, to, say, a festival booker? Or an elderly relative? "It's a really good time baby. It's a party. Jump on board baby. Don't be afraid of paradise baby."

Right. And then - boom! - Sam swings back from sexy super-confidence to endearing super-vulnerability, in response to a query about what he'll be getting up to on his downtime during these London shows. "I have a whole week off before my Soho run and I don't really know anyone," he says. "To be honest I feel very lonely here. If you are reading this and want to hang out with me and do something - maybe go on London Eye - give me a call!"

It could be quite a ride.

Sam Campbell plays the Soho Theatre from July 26th to 30th. For tickets visit sohotheatre.com

Then he heads up to Edinburgh as part of the Soho Theatre's Fringe roster, playing the Assembly Roxy from August 3rd to 28th (not 15th). For tickets visit edfringe.com