They say comedy is tragedy, plus time. Xavier says that relates to all aspects of comedy and that a really good sense of humour comes from one form of tragedy.

“All good great art comes out of suffering,” exclaims Xavier, “that’s the time when you need to have a sense of humour the most.”

We start on the subject of Greece, and what better way to cope with adversity than laugh in its face.

“The Greeks have always had a great sense of humour… but it’s a different one,” he says. He describes his pappou’s sense of humour, that was based more on the absurd statements and skewing reality than simple jokes, but this can also apply to his own.

Comedy with Xavier is just that, “a different one”. With theatre and improv experience under his belt, Xavier uses his shows to deliver the unexpected through characters, dialogue and witty segues. His comedy can at times be seen to be in a league of its own, but it’s funny; and that’s the main thing.

Xavier’s life in comedy began in 2001, when he won the WA finals of the national Raw Comedy competition. Since then, Xavier immersed himself in the improv scene in Perth and eventually made the move to Melbourne a couple of years ago to live, breathe and love all things stand-up.

In his fifth Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Xavier will be debut his show The Brain Whisperer. A hybrid of traditional stand-up, a little bit theatre and his love of sketch, the show aims to toy with notions of the mind. Watch Xavier delve into his own brain and explore themes relating to the brain, thoughts and the mind.

Whilst most comedians trial a new show at the Adelaide Fringe before MICF, Xavier is more of your ‘jump-right-in’ comedian; he will debut The Brain Whisperer in Melbourne. The new show was written in Adelaide during the day, while he was performing his old show Future World at night.

“It was confusing writing both shows, as you have to get your mind from writing during the day and concentrating on performing at night. But I think it’s fun because once you are doing a show at night your days are free and there’s nothing to do apart from going to the movies or drinking more – which is never good ,” explains Xavier.

“I am still very happy and excited about it because a new show is always a lot of fun to do. It’s scary but it’s also really exciting.”

But not as scary as facing a room full of psychiatrists. This wasn’t done because he felt he himself needed “brain help”, Xavier accepted a corporate gig… and it was his job to make them laugh.

“I am not saying psychiatrists don’t have a sense of humour; but these ones really didn’t,” states Xavier.

“This was early on and I was ill prepared, I really didn’t think through what jokes would work well so I was doing my Star Wars nerdy material thinking that they might be nerds, but they really weren’t at all.”

As part of his routine, Xavier would encourage audience participation to suggest a song line so he could repeat it with his very own Fat Boy Slim stylings.

“People would suggest things like ‘hold the phone’ but when I asked this particular audience for a suggestion someone said ‘you’re pathetic'”.

Bad gigs go hand-in-hand with stand up and Xavier warns that if you haven’t had one yet, then you are due for a “monumental, massively huge bad gig”.

Catch Xavier perform The Brain Whisperer at the Portland Hotel, cnr Russell and Little Collins Streets, Melbourne as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from 29 March to 22 April. For more information and to book tickets visit comedyfestival.com.au/2012/season/