When comedian George Zacharopoulos toured Australia last year, little did he know he was going to be accused of terrorism by the Australian Federal Police.
George had spent the day at the Adelaide Cup, which he says was just an excuse to day drink.
Now night time, he and his friend found themselves roaming the streets, really hungry and fairly drunk.
But being in Adelaide, with nothing to do at night, the two decided to go to the one place that would still be open – the casino.
It was at that point the Greek and his British friend had a run in with the law.
“On the way to the casino he saw the botanical gardens and decided to jump the wall into the gardens, and then I jumped because I was bored on the other side,” George told Neos Kosmos.
“Then the federal police arrived because it turned out we were in the governor general’s house and we’re trespassing government property.
“They were detaining us because we were foreign elements on federal property.”
In Australia this falls under the Espionage and Foreign Interference Act.
“We spent a few hours waiting outside the governor’s house and they brought more police officers.”
“They went through the CCTV footage, checked everything and saw my friend on the wall trying to do a little jumping jack then falling over on the other side.
“It was then they realised we’re just two idiots.
“Yeah I don’t think you work for Putin they said.”
Back down under
This is just a taste of one story George shares in his new show ‘2024 Greek Comedian of the Year: Greek in the Sheets’.
He is now on the last leg of his Australian tour and performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He is coming off shows in Perth and Adelaide.
In addition to the Melbourne show he is also performing ‘Alice: The Right Swipe That Ruined My Life’.
He is the only comedian at the festival doing two entirely different solo shows.
“Melbourne is always lucky because it always gets the best version of the show, because I’ve been doing it for three months,” George said.
“By the time it comes here it’s perfect.”
Coming here since 2015, the Kalamata native always presents a brand-new show, and this year is no different.
“My show this year about my fear of death, which it gets like a bit dark, but not in a way that audiences get awkward.”
Different tastes in comedy
Darker humour works in the UK George says, where he has lived for over 20 years now.
In a previous interview with Neos Kosmos last year, George detailed the difference with comedy in the UK and Greece.
Now he discusses what he has noticed with Aussies and comedy, noting that we are much more happier people.
“I think in Australia they like dark stuff less.”
“The Brits, I think are fonder of very dark humour because they’re miserable.
“The weather there is not conducive to happy thoughts and because of the misery they have within them, they identify with dark humour a lot.
“Where I see in Australia you guys love a good story like that one about me in the governor’s house.”
While that run in with the police at the governor’s house was unfortunate (it did give him perfect material for the show however), George also did have a much more upbeat experience last year.
“The Comics Lounge in North Melbourne last year gave me the award for Best International Comedy Act.”
George is performing at The Oxford Scholar on Swanston Street until April 21.
For more information or to book one of his shows visit the Melbourne International Comedy Festival website.
