Say 'hola' to Australia’s newest Aussie – Ivan Aristeguieta.
Ivan has added another passport to his citizenship collection, and now he doesn't know who he is! His new show 'Citizen' has already taken home a weekly Best Comedy award at Adelaide Fringe, and now he's bringing it to Sydney and Brisbane Comedy Festivals.
The Venezuelan part of Ivan is for dancing. . . The Spanish part of him is for cooking. . . And the Australian part? Is for giving it a red-hot go. Crikey, amigo!
Ivan hits the stage fresh from his latest Paramount+ TV special.
We chat to Ivan about becoming an Australian, and what his new show 'Citizen' entails.
You’re now one of us! How does it feel?!
I identify as Australian now, my pronouns are yeah/nah.
What will you be presenting audiences in ‘Citizen’?
I will answer the question 'what does it mean to be Australian?' from different points of view.
You’ve already begun to play the show this comedy festival season. What’s been the highlight so far?
I won a comedy award for it at the Adelaide Fringe Festival!
Where did your journey in comedy begin?
I was six years old, and my grandpa said to me 'pull my finger'. He made me laugh so hard and I wanted to do that to other people.
And what’s been the most important thing you’ve learned from it so far?
The most important lesson about comedy is in that first joke from my grandpa. Comedy is about tension and release. Without tension and struggle, there’ll be no funny moments in life.
For anyone new to your stand-up, how best would you describe it?
Besides 'extremely funny' I’d say 'perspective'. I try to make audiences see life through funny and new points of view.
Tell us a bit about your process – where do you start when it comes to writing a new show?
I think about the most important event in my life in the past 12 months then I tell that story in the funniest possible way, and the theme of that story becomes the theme of the show.
How are you hoping audiences respond to ‘Citizen’, aside of course from laughing very loud!
I believe that no one can love a country more than a grateful immigrant. After laughing very loud I would like people to feel grateful for a moment and have a good night's sleep.
Ivan Aristeguieta plays Factory Theatre (Sydney Comedy Festival) 13-14 May and Brisbane Powerhouse (Brisbane Comedy Festival) 18-21 May.
