The past year has seen comedian Matt Okine add a few key achievements to his CV, like having a hit TV show, writing a novel and becoming a father for the first time.
“I feel very grateful,” Matt says.“And I don't want to say that in an Instagram influencer, drinking-juice-out-of-a-jar kind of way, I really feel thankful that I've been able to achieve these things, because to write a book is not easy and to finish it is not easy; to make a TV show as well is not easy and to become a parent for the first time is a lot to wrap your head around.
“So to be able to get through it all at the end of the day, that's what I'm most proud of, and ultimately as well to have been able to do it without letting my family down while being there as much as possible, that's been a real pleasure.”
With his TV show 'The Other Guy' becoming a fast favourite and his book 'Being Black 'N Chicken, & Chips' receiving broad critical acclaim, Matt is now preparing to get back on stage with his new hour of stand-up, 'Solo Diner'.
“Man, I am so excited about this show,” he says.
“It's just great to write a new show after taking a year off from touring. It really is about the big decisions you have to make in life when you're in your late 20s and early 30s and you're judging yourself, and all the people around you are making changes. These are the decisions that are going to impact your life forever.
“What I've always done is talk about the stage of my life that I'm in and hope that other people connect with that. I don't think this is my 'dad' show yet – I think every comic gets to put in one 'dad' show for their career and this isn't it. This is more that turning point in life when you're about to take the plunge.
“There's so many things: it's also about bad first dates, bird seed fees, taking a crab to the Logies – it jumps all over the place. It's a pretty wild ride. Imagine all the ridiculous things you think of when you're sitting by yourself in a restaurant.”
Matt brings 'Solo Diner' to the Gold Coast as part of the Gold Coast Laughs Festival in March. It's more of a pleasure trip for Matt, who admits to being a regular visitor to the Gold Coast.
“Am I ever? Look, I have the softest spot for the Gold Coast, I absolutely love it,” he says.
“Growing up in Brisbane, I've got the best memories of visiting the Gold Coast, not just as a kid but in my early 20s a friend of ours had an apartment down there where we'd go stay. It was in that beautiful time of your life where you could just pack up on a Tuesday and head down for a few days. It was such a golden period of my life.
“More recently, my partner and I have been coming back there again; we spent the last two Christmases and New Years on the GC. I love the food scene there; what's happening at places like Rick Shores and Burleigh Pavilion, the craft beer scene at places like Balter and Burleigh Brewing Co., you guys are punching well above your weight in terms of the food and wine.”
