Interview: Anthony Locascio Chats About His New Stage Show and HUGE Tour

Comedian Anthony Locascio is about to set off on a massive Australian tour with his new show, Don’t Call Me a Wog (An ethnic comedy story) . We sat down with Anthony to find out more about him and the show.

Hey Anthony, thanks for chatting to us. Congrats on launching the new show and the massive tour ahead! Are you excited to hit the stage?

No, thank YOU. I’m absolutely chuffed to finally be doing a national tour after two years of stop/start attempts.

The show Don’t Call Me A Wog explores your relationship with ethnic heritage. What is your family history here and how does it translate into the stage show?

My parents were both born in Sydney; my mum is of Greek and my dad of Italian heritage, both sets of grandparents immigrated in the 1950s.

This show is all about how I’ve never quite matched any stereotype people have tried to label me with throughout my life; from childhood to school and university, and finally to my career as a comedian. I’ve been labelled a ‘Wog Comic’ and sometimes I like that, sometimes I don’t.

So there isn’t any ‘stereotype humor’ in my show; I want it to be relatably unrelatable. A person’s relationship with their ethnicity is unique and personal, and mine is no different. I want that to be the overall message of DCMAW. This isn’t just a show for Greeks and Italians.

It’s an almost, one-man show kind of story, with a lot of music, poetry, props, and a slideshow with plenty of embarrassing videos and photos. Fun for the whole family.

You’re performing apart of some iconic comedy festivals across the many dates on the tour, have you performed at these events before?

I’m actually not apart from the festivals at all, I’m doing a few of them!

I have had two sold out runs at the Sydney Comedy Festival (2019 and 2021) and was slated to do the Perth Comedy Festival for the last two years, both runs being cancelled due to a very poorly timed flu going around.

So this will be my first year at the Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and the Perth Comedy Festival.

What is the biggest stage flop that happened to you on stage before and what can you say to newcomer to the stage to overcome these things?

I have quite a low center of gravity, and stay on my feet pretty well, so I can’t say I’ve flopped on stage before.

But I have been punched in the face on stage. It’s a long story so check this out for context https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj3foVzyeII

My advice to a newcomer to avoid this; don’t insult a very drunk, large British man’s girlfriend, even if she is relentlessly screaming at you.

I’m told you’re a bit of a YouTube viral sensation, is there a strategy to this or are you just that fucking funny to naturally attract the streams? Or a combination of both.

Viral is definitely a stretch. I’m like an annoying sore throat being passed around at a douchey corporate workplace.

I do have a couple of videos that have done ok, but it’s nothing to do with being ‘fucking funny’. In fact, I was about 6 months into comedy when I filmed the videos in question, and I can’t even watch them they are so cringey. My newer stuff is far better…and far less popular. (Check out my 2020 special ‘Confirmation’ https://www.comedydynamics.com/catalog/anthony-locascio-confirmation/)

The secret really was talking about being Greek. Greeks are attracted to anything vaguely associated with their culture like flies to shit. I’m hoping to take advantage of this little cheatcode on this tour to be honest.

What’s your pre performance ritual?

Run through the show in my head quickly, and neurotically fretting over the most insignificant of details about the show, and a pre-match poo.

Who else are you excited to see perform at the comedy festivals?

There’s obviously way too many to name, but off the top of my head: Luke Heggie, Cameron James, Lizzy Hoo and Dan Muggleton.

If you’re in Sydney also check out my friends Tom Witcombe and Harry Jun.

ANTHONY LOCASCIO ‘DON’T CALL ME A WOG’! (AN ETHNIC COMEDY STORY)

TOUR DATES

TICKETS: ADELAIDE | MELBOURNE | PERTH | SYDNEY

Monday, March 14th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide

Tuesday, March 15th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide

Wednesday, March 16th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide

Thursday, March 17th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide

Friday, March 18th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide

Saturday, March 19th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide

Sunday, April 10th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Tuesday, April 12th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Wednesday, April 13th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Thursday, April 14th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Saturday, April 16th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Sunday, April 17th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Tuesday, April 19th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Wednesday, April 20th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Thursday, April 21st – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Sunday, April 24th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Friday, May 6th – Regal Theatre Chorus Room – Perth

Saturday, May 7th – Regal Theatre Chorus Room – Perth

Friday, May 13th – Factory Theatre Main Room – Sydney