Interview with the passionate Kieran “Truth Teller” Butler, who has been performing comedy for 15 years, and for the past 5.5 years has run a weekly open mic room at Station 59 in Richmond. Some notable shows from his comedy career include the Ben Cousins Rock Opera in 2009/2010, the Ned Kelly Last Stand Up show in 2011, and the Australia Is Fucked show which Kieran took to Edinburgh in 2013.
We discuss: Comedy in Australia having a bigger role to play than “just getting on the telly” or becoming famous, Kieran’s views on child abuse in Australian culture, family history of bipolar disorder, self-medication, the blessing of the way his brain works, what goes down must come up and vice versa, the benefits of working in the Arts for taking care of mental health, the capitalist approach to comedy that will always exist, happiness from his relationship and parenthood, running a room with the view to give back, issues with cliques, the “sad lifestyle” of comedy, the power of people being heard on stage, Everyone Is Welcome policy, black and white terms of acceptance/exclusion, the evolution of comedy, being pigeon-holed with the label of “football satirist”, the Michael McIntyre genre of comedy, the importance of the artistic journey, views on medication, self-control with weed, importance of not starting on weed too early in life, Kieran’s super powers, the essence of being a true football supporter, the need to experience the pain of defeats to truly appreciate the elation of wins, and being all-in with life.
