Comedy set a ‘scam’ for the audience

SLEEPING in and laziness are traits usually related to the less-than successful, but for Akmal Saleh his love for pillows and blankets is what made the bed for now being known as one of Australia’s funniest comic performers.

From a young age, Akmal tried time and time again to keep a variety of jobs but having to wake up at certain times was too much effort so he would sooner or later reach for the covers and choose his bed over money.

His natural sense of humour soon led to late-start comedy gigs so with more sleep time and with a quick rise in popularity, Akmal became addicted to a comedian’s lifestyle.

“Once I got those first few big laughs, I could not stop doing it,” he said.

Now an established stand-up comedian nationwide, Akmal has also explored other avenues as a talk show host, radio DJ, guest star on television shows, published author and actor.

Preferring solo stand-up comedy shows over television appearances, Akmal said although the on-screen opportunities added numbers to his fan-base, being on stage alone was far better than having to work with someone else’s material.

“It is the thing I do best and where I have the most control,” he said.

“When you are on stage alone, you are the writer, director and performer and you are totally responsible for it.”

Describing himself as an erratic oddball, Akmal said his material was a constant work-in-progress derived from somewhere, some place, some time.

“Some people work really hard and they come up with a new hour but for me it happens very organically and gradually,” he said.

“I do not really rehearse – I improvise so it is all fresh.”

Interpreting comedy as a therapy session where traumatic things were turned into jokes at the right time, Akmal laughed about having a platform to share his experiences.

“The audience comes in, I dump my problems on them and they pay me money, it is a scam,” Akmal said.

Having performed in Bunbury on many occasions, Akmal was excited for the not-easily-offended South West audiences to laugh along with him on matters and subjects he found hilarious.

Akmal’s tongue-in-cheek humour and ability to snag laughs out of every topic imaginable will have comedy fanatics laughing hysterically at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on November 3.