Irish Comedian Karl Spain on Being Funny to Make His Mom Happy

Punchline Comedy celebrates St. Patrick’s Day (a little late) with a line-up of all Irish comedians flown in from the Emerald Isle. We caught up with Karl Spain before the gigs in Shanghai and Beijing.

Did your parents and schoolmates find you funny as a child?
I used to try and entertain my mother and she used to laugh. She was sick for a long time and we looked after her at home and I used to try and cheer her up by playing characters and telling her jokes. In school I was funny too but in Ireland a lot of children are funny.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a comedian?
I saw Billy Connolly and I thought this is what I need to do, but it took me ten years to get up the courage.

Touring several countries, do the jokes ever get lost in cultural translation?
It can happen but with experience you learn what not to talk about. I've always had a great time in China it's one of my favourite places to play.

You went on Operation Transformation – how did that go?
I lost a lot of weight in just a month but I've regained some of it . But I'm back in the gym now.

Of all your TV work, which show was the most enjoyable to work on?
Well I did a show on dating and met my girlfriend on that show and we're still together twelve years later so I'll have to say that. But working on TV is always fun.

Which Irish stereotype do you most embody?
That I'm a storyteller and I like fun. 

And are there any you don’t appreciate?
Well I don't drink alcohol, even though I look like I do. There are Irish people who don't drink... well there's me... I'm sure there are others too.

Who is your favorite comedian of all time?
It changes but Billy Connolly would most certainly be one. I'm lucky now that I get to meet and work with a lot of my favourite comedians. And of the current generation I would say Kevin Bridges.

What does Karl Spain want?
To have a great time in China. I'm looking forward to Fred Cooke and Kevin McGahern seeing China for the first time. 

Mar 23-24, 8.30pm, RMB290. Cages (Friday night) and Kerry Hotel Pudong (Saturday Night), see event listing. Buy tickets for Friday here, buy tickets for Saturday here.