Hills, thrills and belly laughs

After forging an impressive career in comedy, Adam is now comfortable with his disability, speaking out on various rights and issues.

It seems that the 45-year-old Australian stand-up is trying to make up for lost time. ‘I was away for nine weeks earlier this year and my wife bore the brunt of it all so when I come home I clear the diary, and now I literally have a two-year-old at my feet, who I’ve just fed, changed her nappy and will later on have to bathe.’

Adam frequently has layovers in Dubai but this time is relishing the idea of leaving the airport and coming into the city. It’s been 14 years since he did that and he can’t wait to reacquaint himself and his wry, observational humour with the Dubai audience. ‘Whenever there is an expat audience, it’s always good fun because I’ve spent so many years travelling the world. I’ve got bits and pieces about various nationalities so I am assuming there will be Americans, English, Irish, Australians, Scots, hopefully some Swedes and Dutch, all of whom I will have material about.’

‘When you see someone running with a blade you think, “that looks awesome”. As we speak I am wearing a blade that I was fitted with a few months ago and I love it to bits and just think I am the coolest man on the planet! The image of disability has changed. I would never have referred to myself as disabled in the past whereas now I say yes, I am. If that puts me in the same category as those Paralympians, then sure.’

Adam’s shows are renowned for using a sign interpreter at the side of the stage. However this will not be in evidence in Dubai. Adam explains: ‘In Dubai there will be different nationalities and they will have a different type of sign language. So American sign language is different to British is different to Australian, so it is totally possible that I would need six different sign interpreters. The show could go on all night!

One thing that will be guaranteed at the World Trade Centre show will be audience participation. Adam thrives on it. ‘Whether you are in front of 50 people or a 100 or a 1,000, you’ve got to connect with them in some way. I like the audience to leave thinking “we’ve seen something that hasn’t happened any other night”. For example in Glasgow a guy came in late because he thought there was a support act, so I got him up on stage so he became my support act. I like knowing that every show is going to be different so the Dubai show will also depend on who is in the audience that night!’

You’d expect Adam’s life to be as composed and unflappable as it is on stage. ‘If only’, says the comedian. ‘Me on stage and on TV, to paraphrase a quote from Bono, is closer to the person I would like to be in real life. I wish I was as unfazed in real life as I am on stage. I’ve learnt through trial and error that when you are on stage people like to see someone unfazed by stuff. They love it when things go wrong and you manage to work your way out of it. I’ve always tried to be positive with my comedy.’

It’s almost impossible to envisage Adam as anything other than warm, genial and big-hearted. ‘I might kick the odd garbage bin if I can’t find my glasses,’ he chortles. ‘I go on stage full of the best intentions and positivity and a bit of innocence, but it’s always liable to go off the rails!’