The Times Interview - Mike Loder, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor

Thursday, 17 May 2007

• Howick and Pakuranga Times

Mike Loder with his winner's prize that spells l-a-u-g-h, collected at the recent 2007 Business to Business Humour in Business Awards. Times photo PJ Taylor.

EVERYONE’S a comedian at this time of year, as some of the funniest people on the planet join Kiwi laugh generators at the annual International Comedy Festival. As an event, the festival has quickly flourished to become one of the genuine highlights on Auckland’s entertainment calendar. It’s crucial to the survival and growth of the New Zealand comedy industry and the locals’ sanity. Mike Loder, Manukau’s own leading joker and social commentator, has been instrumental in the start-up of regular comedy shows in the region’s south and east over the past year. And the way things have been going over the past 12 months, nationally and locally, we’re all in need of a few giggles.At the moment, does it seem like every person you meet is a comedian?The International Comedy Festival has gone from strength to strength in a few short years. What does it do for the local comedy industry?Neil Finn has gone public criticising the government’s role in the performance arts and NZ Music Month. How do you assess the performance arts sector and the role government has played in it over the past eight years?In the type of significant legal judgement that only comes along every decade or so (Arthur Alan Thomas and David Tamihere being previous well-known examples), David Bain’s convictions have been quashed after he’s been in prison for 13 years. Did the Privy Council judgement come as a surprise?Ricky Lake ShowStar All Blacks lock Ali Williams came home early from the Blues tour to South Africa and Perth. Have you thoughts on how this story played out in the news? Have you any advice for Ali?
What do you make of the global warming debate?When did you decide on a career in comedy?You’ve started staging big comedy nights in Manukau over the past year, utilising the top quality new venue we have in Manukau, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre. Do you feel the region’s south and east are in need of a good laugh?The Auckland region is changing quicker than at any time in its history and with that comes social upheaval. What problems do you feel we need to address with more haste?
Has Auckland become a more difficult city to live in for wheelchair users? And if so, why? Mike Loder fact file:Born and bred:Lives in:Schools:Favourite places in Auckland:The best comedy audiences in NZ are:The hardest crowds to play are in: