WEBVTT - Talking Vision 746 Week Beginning 16th of September 2024 0:00:13.158 --> 0:00:18.948 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:18.948 --> 0:00:20.988 your host Sam Colley. 0:00:23.538 --> 0:00:26.658 Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:26.658 --> 0:00:29.658 for the next half hour we talk matters of blindness 0:00:29.658 --> 0:00:30.678 and low vision. 0:00:30.708 --> 0:00:32.628 I learnt that I could do it on my own. 0:00:32.628 --> 0:00:36.198 I could go to things, I'd watch things and I 0:00:36.198 --> 0:00:37.998 was like, why can't I do that? Why can't I 0:00:38.028 --> 0:00:41.388 be on stage telling my story? And I saw a 0:00:41.388 --> 0:00:45.048 lot of people with disability performing, and they were talking 0:00:45.048 --> 0:00:48.678 about their disabilities. And I thought, okay, that's great. Like, 0:00:48.678 --> 0:00:52.488 it's inclusive and accessible and so I'd love to be 0:00:52.488 --> 0:00:56.268 part of that. And so I've been performing ever since. 0:00:56.298 --> 0:01:00.228 Welcome to the program. This week we've got a special 0:01:00.228 --> 0:01:03.528 treat in store for you as I chat with Legally 0:01:03.528 --> 0:01:09.658 Blind comedian and vaudeville performer Jeremy Moses as he embarks 0:01:09.658 --> 0:01:15.148 on a series of shows at the Sydney and Melbourne 0:01:15.148 --> 0:01:20.338 Fringe Festivals over the coming weeks. You'll hear from him 0:01:20.338 --> 0:01:24.148 as he talks about what people can expect as they 0:01:24.148 --> 0:01:27.808 head along to check them out. We'll have a two 0:01:27.838 --> 0:01:31.468 part chat with Jeremy today, as he tells us all 0:01:31.468 --> 0:01:35.758 about his life as a performer with low vision, but 0:01:35.758 --> 0:01:40.138 also how he got into comedy and the positive messages 0:01:40.138 --> 0:01:43.678 he's hoping to share through his role as a performer 0:01:43.678 --> 0:01:47.998 to create a more safe and inclusive place for both 0:01:48.028 --> 0:01:53.908 audiences and fellow performers with disabilities. I hope you enjoy 0:01:53.908 --> 0:02:02.578 this week's episode of Talking Vision. With Jeremy Moses is 0:02:02.578 --> 0:02:06.848 a comedian with low Vision, who will be performing at 0:02:06.848 --> 0:02:12.338 the upcoming fringe festivals in Sydney and Melbourne over the 0:02:12.338 --> 0:02:17.718 coming weeks. You'll find him in Marrickville on September the 0:02:17.718 --> 0:02:23.228 21st and 22nd, and in Melbourne at the Trades Hall 0:02:23.228 --> 0:02:28.148 festival space between October the 2nd and the sixth. To 0:02:28.178 --> 0:02:31.268 have a chat with me all about the shows and 0:02:31.268 --> 0:02:34.238 to tell us a little bit more about himself. It's 0:02:34.238 --> 0:02:38.498 my great pleasure to be joined by Jeremy now. Jeremy, 0:02:38.498 --> 0:02:42.128 welcome to Talking Vision. Thanks so much for your time. 0:02:42.488 --> 0:02:44.528 Hello, Sam. Thank you so much for having me. 0:02:44.558 --> 0:02:48.338 Let's get a bit more of an overview of yourself 0:02:48.338 --> 0:02:51.668 as a performer. Tell us a bit about yourself. 0:02:51.698 --> 0:02:55.628 Sure. So I got into comedy last year just before 0:02:55.628 --> 0:02:58.508 the Melbourne Fringe Festival. I actually signed up for the 0:02:58.508 --> 0:03:01.928 fringe before I'd even done stand up comedy, which is 0:03:01.928 --> 0:03:04.638 a daunting prospect. But, um, I had to learn on 0:03:04.638 --> 0:03:08.298 the job. And I did a show called 157 minutes 0:03:08.298 --> 0:03:12.528 of Bad slam poetry. Uh, it was based on some 0:03:12.528 --> 0:03:15.858 poetry that I wrote in lockdown. And, you know, I'd 0:03:15.888 --> 0:03:19.128 wear a pink beret and I'd blow a harmonica. Um, 0:03:19.128 --> 0:03:22.938 and I recorded, like, 100 poems in 100 days, which 0:03:22.938 --> 0:03:24.348 was a mammoth effort. 0:03:24.378 --> 0:03:26.868 Yeah, it's quite an ambition. Wow. Yeah. 0:03:26.898 --> 0:03:29.688 I had nothing better to do. Oh. Fair enough. Um, so. 0:03:29.688 --> 0:03:32.538 So I did those, and, um. And then. And then 0:03:32.538 --> 0:03:35.868 after that, I, um, turned it into a fringe show 0:03:35.928 --> 0:03:38.448 for the Melbourne fringe, uh, which is kind of my 0:03:38.448 --> 0:03:42.798 first time performing in public. Um, so I did the 0:03:42.798 --> 0:03:47.658 open mic circuit. I performed at various gigs and sort 0:03:47.688 --> 0:03:50.958 of learned the ropes on the job, and I did 0:03:50.958 --> 0:03:54.648 the Melbourne Fringe show, and it was it was really good. 0:03:54.678 --> 0:03:58.158 It was a really warmly received. I did some poetry. 0:03:58.188 --> 0:04:01.668 I wore the costume and then I'd talk about, like, 0:04:01.698 --> 0:04:05.668 my family and I'd talk about my disability. I'm legally 0:04:05.668 --> 0:04:10.918 blind and low vision, so I, um, like visually impaired. 0:04:10.918 --> 0:04:14.488 So I thought I'd talk about that. And it was 0:04:14.488 --> 0:04:18.058 really nice, like people seemed to really warm to it. Um, 0:04:18.088 --> 0:04:21.958 that kind of honest approach about living with a disability. 0:04:21.958 --> 0:04:24.418 And it did really well. So I brought it back 0:04:24.448 --> 0:04:28.018 this year, earlier this year for the Melbourne Comedy Festival, 0:04:28.048 --> 0:04:30.988 did a few shows there, and that was great and 0:04:31.018 --> 0:04:34.258 improved on that. And yeah, now I'm doing a show 0:04:34.258 --> 0:04:37.558 for the Melbourne Fringe, which is completely brand new, and 0:04:37.588 --> 0:04:41.008 it's a two hander with my friend Emily, and I'm 0:04:41.008 --> 0:04:44.698 blind and she's deaf. And so we have an amazing 0:04:44.728 --> 0:04:46.468 show coming up. All right. 0:04:46.468 --> 0:04:50.338 Well, talk about those shows in a little while, but 0:04:50.368 --> 0:04:54.898 I'm really interested to hear about how you got into comedy. 0:04:54.898 --> 0:04:57.958 As I understand, as you've said, you're quite new to 0:04:57.988 --> 0:05:01.348 the whole comedy scene. What was the thing that got 0:05:01.348 --> 0:05:03.638 you into that? What brought that about? 0:05:03.758 --> 0:05:07.898 Yeah, I've always been funny and told jokes in a 0:05:07.898 --> 0:05:11.738 private setting, and I, um, I used to be a filmmaker, 0:05:11.738 --> 0:05:15.218 so I used to make short films and mini documentaries 0:05:15.218 --> 0:05:19.268 and sketches, and they were all kind of comedic and I'd, 0:05:19.298 --> 0:05:22.238 you know, perform in them and I'd edit them, which is, 0:05:22.268 --> 0:05:25.058 you know, strange for someone with a visual impairment or 0:05:25.058 --> 0:05:28.598 not strange, but perceived as strange of someone with low 0:05:28.598 --> 0:05:32.198 vision who's editing videos. And so I enjoyed that kind 0:05:32.198 --> 0:05:37.568 of juxtaposition like that, challenging norms and expectations. So I 0:05:37.568 --> 0:05:39.368 did that for a few years where I just make 0:05:39.368 --> 0:05:42.818 all these videos and then, yeah, lockdown happened and I 0:05:42.818 --> 0:05:45.668 started to kind of do these poems just as something 0:05:45.668 --> 0:05:48.158 to do put them on YouTube, put them on Twitter. 0:05:48.158 --> 0:05:50.858 And then I sort of got the performing bug a 0:05:50.858 --> 0:05:54.128 little bit. I started to watch a lot of festival shows. 0:05:54.128 --> 0:05:56.798 I went to the Melbourne Fringe Festival the year before 0:05:56.798 --> 0:06:00.458 I went to, I did mine and the website had 0:06:00.488 --> 0:06:03.958 like all these accessibility sections. So it would tell you 0:06:03.988 --> 0:06:07.558 like turn left, go down these stairs, turn right, go 0:06:07.558 --> 0:06:11.458 to the lift. And as an independent person like it 0:06:11.458 --> 0:06:15.028 helped me navigate venues. And so I learned that I 0:06:15.028 --> 0:06:16.378 could do it on my own. I could go to 0:06:16.408 --> 0:06:20.128 things and watch things, and I was like, why can't 0:06:20.128 --> 0:06:22.558 I do that? Why can't I be on stage telling 0:06:22.558 --> 0:06:25.528 my story? And I saw a lot of people with 0:06:25.528 --> 0:06:30.508 disability performing, and they were talking about their disabilities. And 0:06:30.508 --> 0:06:34.438 I thought, okay, that's great. Like, it's inclusive and accessible 0:06:34.438 --> 0:06:36.928 and so I'd love to be part of that. And 0:06:36.928 --> 0:06:39.478 so I've been performing ever since. 0:06:39.508 --> 0:06:43.108 Oh, wow. And Jeremy, tell us a little bit about 0:06:43.108 --> 0:06:46.468 your low vision. You can go into as much detail 0:06:46.498 --> 0:06:50.278 or as little as you feel comfortable with. Has that 0:06:50.278 --> 0:06:54.508 sort of impacted your comedy and I guess your life 0:06:54.508 --> 0:06:59.518 more broadly, and has that been something you've lived with 0:06:59.818 --> 0:07:04.258 since birth, or had you experienced vision loss later in life? 0:07:04.378 --> 0:07:07.918 Yeah, I was born with it. It's a syndrome called 0:07:07.948 --> 0:07:12.928 optic atrophy plus or bears syndrome. It's very rare and 0:07:12.928 --> 0:07:16.318 it's like a genetic disorder. And it's got a physical component. 0:07:16.318 --> 0:07:18.508 So I have like kind of bad balance as well 0:07:18.538 --> 0:07:22.588 bad coordination and low vision. But it's hard to quantify 0:07:22.588 --> 0:07:26.038 it like people have struggled it basically I can't read 0:07:26.068 --> 0:07:29.638 at long distance like subtitles on a movie. I struggle 0:07:29.668 --> 0:07:32.998 to read it and also close up. I need like 0:07:33.028 --> 0:07:36.568 large print font. So when I was at school, they 0:07:36.568 --> 0:07:40.108 would blow up the books into A3 and I'd carry 0:07:40.108 --> 0:07:44.188 around these massive like binders of, of, of notes and things. 0:07:44.218 --> 0:07:47.338 Oh yeah. And so it's always been there. When I 0:07:47.338 --> 0:07:49.858 was a teenager, I went to a camp for the 0:07:49.858 --> 0:07:52.588 visually impaired in New South Wales and got to hang 0:07:52.588 --> 0:07:55.348 out with a lot of people with similar vision, low 0:07:55.348 --> 0:07:58.888 vision and other disabilities, and that was great. So I've 0:07:58.888 --> 0:08:01.508 always kind of been part of it. I've never really 0:08:01.508 --> 0:08:05.198 talked about it publicly until I started doing comedy and 0:08:05.198 --> 0:08:08.318 stand up, and I find people have really warmed to it. 0:08:08.348 --> 0:08:11.138 It's great to be able to tell my lived experience, 0:08:11.138 --> 0:08:15.818 and I feel very comfortable being seen. Um, and I'm 0:08:15.818 --> 0:08:19.718 shining like a positive light on disability, which is really 0:08:19.718 --> 0:08:22.508 fun and great and nourishing. 0:08:22.538 --> 0:08:25.598 Yeah, it's quite a few of those little aspects there 0:08:25.598 --> 0:08:28.868 I can totally relate with. As somebody who's also had 0:08:28.868 --> 0:08:32.318 low vision from birth and that whole thing with the 0:08:32.318 --> 0:08:35.468 balance and the coordination, and you have to rule out 0:08:35.468 --> 0:08:40.238 riding a bike, unfortunately, which is how it is. But, um, yeah, 0:08:40.238 --> 0:08:43.088 that was one of my big things. That was sort of, oh, damn, 0:08:43.088 --> 0:08:45.398 I can't do that. But I also like to focus 0:08:45.398 --> 0:08:48.428 on what we can do. So that's the most important part, 0:08:48.458 --> 0:08:51.878 as all of this helped you sort of process various 0:08:51.908 --> 0:08:55.568 aspects of it that you've never really sort of verbalized before, 0:08:55.568 --> 0:08:57.818 and then you talk about it and you think, oh, yeah, 0:08:57.848 --> 0:09:00.888 I did feel that way. I did have that experience 0:09:00.888 --> 0:09:04.578 as that sort of helped you mentally and psychologically in 0:09:04.608 --> 0:09:05.178 that way? 0:09:05.208 --> 0:09:09.108 I think so, yeah. Like when I'd walk around and 0:09:09.108 --> 0:09:11.238 I'd kind of like shuffle around a little bit at 0:09:11.238 --> 0:09:14.418 the train stations and someone would stop me and say, like, 0:09:14.448 --> 0:09:15.948 you know, are you drunk or do you have a 0:09:15.948 --> 0:09:20.838 disability and stuff? And, and I kind of, I enjoy 0:09:20.838 --> 0:09:22.878 that now. I can say, oh, buy a ticket to 0:09:22.908 --> 0:09:26.838 my show and then you'll find out, like you'll understand. Yeah. 0:09:26.838 --> 0:09:29.778 It's good to open up that dialogue. And a lot 0:09:29.808 --> 0:09:33.858 of people have invisible disabilities or disabilities that, you know, 0:09:33.858 --> 0:09:36.978 people don't understand. And so it's great to have that 0:09:36.978 --> 0:09:39.738 connection and be able to explain that to people. My 0:09:39.738 --> 0:09:43.098 condition is very rare. And so that's another layer of 0:09:43.098 --> 0:09:45.828 it that people will learn about that I find really 0:09:45.858 --> 0:09:48.918 like compelling. And yeah, I definitely find it. It's a 0:09:48.918 --> 0:09:52.578 relief to be able to express that in a medium 0:09:52.578 --> 0:09:56.088 and being on stage. It's very immediate. People learn about 0:09:56.088 --> 0:09:59.238 you straight away and it's hard to hide, like when 0:09:59.238 --> 0:10:01.838 I shuffle onto the stage, or the mic has to 0:10:01.838 --> 0:10:03.488 give me a hand up onto the stage to like, 0:10:03.518 --> 0:10:05.768 shake my hand because, like, I'm scared I'm going to 0:10:05.768 --> 0:10:08.798 fall over or something. All right. The audience will see 0:10:08.798 --> 0:10:11.228 that and you have like a minute or something to 0:10:11.258 --> 0:10:14.438 break that ice and explain to them. And I think 0:10:14.438 --> 0:10:17.558 that's refreshing. Like a lot of comedy that I go to. 0:10:17.588 --> 0:10:21.608 Disability can tend to be a punchline. Comedians sometimes do 0:10:21.638 --> 0:10:26.618 really mean material about disability, and I think the more 0:10:26.618 --> 0:10:30.608 people with lived experience get up and feel comfortable, the 0:10:30.608 --> 0:10:35.498 more audiences will learn. And also it helps audiences who 0:10:35.498 --> 0:10:38.618 have disabilities to feel comfortable. When I was at the 0:10:38.618 --> 0:10:41.858 comedy festival, a comedian was doing some mean material about 0:10:41.858 --> 0:10:44.678 blindness and deafness and calling a couple of people in 0:10:44.678 --> 0:10:47.318 the audience retarded and oh my God. And that really 0:10:47.318 --> 0:10:48.158 upset me. 0:10:48.188 --> 0:10:51.668 Yeah. That's terrible. What the hell? That's not okay one bit. 0:10:51.668 --> 0:10:53.948 And I you know, I'm sort of realizing as an 0:10:53.948 --> 0:10:57.968 audience member you don't want to feel bad for your disabilities. 0:10:57.968 --> 0:11:01.688 Everyone's unique. Everyone's got something, and it would be lovely 0:11:01.688 --> 0:11:04.418 if we could all go to a show and feel 0:11:04.418 --> 0:11:07.388 accepted and feel welcome. So I try and bring that 0:11:07.388 --> 0:11:08.528 to the table. 0:11:08.558 --> 0:11:11.048 Well, that's a huge point. I mean, there's so many 0:11:11.048 --> 0:11:14.288 shows out there and comedy that can be funny without 0:11:14.288 --> 0:11:17.378 punching down, and you've also been a part of that 0:11:17.378 --> 0:11:19.988 and will continue to be a part of that and 0:11:20.138 --> 0:11:24.098 giving that positivity and can do attitude to all manners 0:11:24.098 --> 0:11:29.588 of disability and inclusivity. So that's fantastic. And on that note, Jeremy, 0:11:29.588 --> 0:11:33.578 I'd love to have a chat about your upcoming shows. 0:11:33.578 --> 0:11:36.998 You're heading up to Sydney for the Fringe Comedy Festival 0:11:36.998 --> 0:11:41.588 over the 21st and 22nd, and heading back to Melbourne 0:11:41.588 --> 0:11:45.728 for the Melbourne Fringe a couple weeks later on October 0:11:45.728 --> 0:11:50.318 2nd at Trades Hall. So let's start with your Sydney show. 0:11:50.348 --> 0:11:54.818 157 hours of bad slam poetry. You've told us a 0:11:54.818 --> 0:11:57.248 little bit about it before, but tell us a bit 0:11:57.248 --> 0:11:58.418 about that one. 0:11:58.668 --> 0:12:01.908 Yeah. So I changed the name from 157 minutes of 0:12:01.908 --> 0:12:06.078 bad slam poetry to 157 hours of bad slam poetry, 0:12:06.078 --> 0:12:08.478 because people didn't want to sit through something they thought 0:12:08.478 --> 0:12:14.748 was 2.5 hours of poetry. So I've cleared up the confusion. Okay. 0:12:14.778 --> 0:12:18.168 And yeah, so it's a similar show to what I 0:12:18.168 --> 0:12:20.838 did at the first, you know, Melbourne Fringe last year. 0:12:20.838 --> 0:12:23.508 And then I brought it back for the comedy festival, 0:12:23.508 --> 0:12:25.968 and it's a bit more polished and I've added some 0:12:25.968 --> 0:12:28.968 things to that. The story about my experience at the 0:12:28.968 --> 0:12:31.938 camp for the visually impaired and how I met a crush, 0:12:31.938 --> 0:12:35.628 and I was attracted to a girl, and I had 0:12:35.628 --> 0:12:38.118 my first kiss there and it was lovely. So yeah. 0:12:38.118 --> 0:12:39.918 So I talk about that and I talk about a 0:12:39.918 --> 0:12:42.978 lot of the awkward situations I've been in in my life, 0:12:43.008 --> 0:12:45.228 you know, getting into the wrong cars when I was 0:12:45.228 --> 0:12:48.108 a kid or getting kicked out of a bar, you know, 0:12:48.138 --> 0:12:50.868 because the bartender thought I was drunk as an adult. 0:12:50.868 --> 0:12:53.868 So I talk about stories like that in that show. 0:12:53.898 --> 0:12:56.088 It's really great. And I do some poetry, and I 0:12:56.118 --> 0:12:59.158 wear a beret and it's very silly, but it's great. Yeah. 0:12:59.158 --> 0:13:02.128 So I'm flying to Sydney for that. That'll be on 0:13:02.128 --> 0:13:05.848 the 21st and 22nd of September at the Factory Theatre 0:13:05.848 --> 0:13:08.668 in Marrickville, which is a lovely venue. Yeah. 0:13:08.728 --> 0:13:10.348 Great spot. Marrickville. Yeah. 0:13:10.858 --> 0:13:14.728 Yeah. Unfortunately the room I'm in isn't accessible. Oh, damn. 0:13:14.758 --> 0:13:17.968 But it's fine like otherwise. Like, if anyone wants to come, 0:13:17.968 --> 0:13:20.998 they're more than welcome. It's a great show about disability. 0:13:21.028 --> 0:13:23.758 My life, my family. It's a bit of a roller 0:13:23.758 --> 0:13:27.298 coaster as well. I talk about some sad things, but 0:13:27.298 --> 0:13:30.418 it's a nourishing experience and it's very safe and like, 0:13:30.448 --> 0:13:33.058 I'm really proud of it and hopefully I can tour 0:13:33.088 --> 0:13:35.908 it around after that. So that's coming up in Sydney. 0:13:35.938 --> 0:13:38.728 I actually have to fly on my own now because 0:13:38.728 --> 0:13:41.008 my partner can't make it, and it's the first time 0:13:41.008 --> 0:13:43.048 that I'm flying on my own. And I was I 0:13:43.048 --> 0:13:45.868 was on the airline's website and you tick the box 0:13:45.868 --> 0:13:49.198 of like, you know, what do you need accessibility wise? 0:13:49.198 --> 0:13:52.378 I tick the box and I said, I'm visually impaired 0:13:52.378 --> 0:13:55.048 and I have a hidden disability as well. And then 0:13:55.048 --> 0:13:58.188 I went to check out and it said, we can't 0:13:58.188 --> 0:14:02.448 accommodate your disability on this flight. Please pick another flight. 0:14:02.478 --> 0:14:04.638 Oh my God. Yeah, I know, but it still let 0:14:04.638 --> 0:14:07.098 me check out. So as I'm talking to you now, 0:14:07.098 --> 0:14:09.918 I'm not sure whether I am or am not going 0:14:09.918 --> 0:14:13.188 to be helped like at the airport. So that's a 0:14:13.188 --> 0:14:15.978 little terrifying finding my gate. And yeah, I don't know 0:14:15.978 --> 0:14:17.028 how that's going to go, but. 0:14:17.418 --> 0:14:20.538 Yeah, that'll be interesting. We'll have to have a follow 0:14:20.568 --> 0:14:23.688 up chat and see how that's all gone. Because you know, 0:14:23.718 --> 0:14:27.768 that's that's that. Yeah, that's an experience. Unfortunately a lot 0:14:27.768 --> 0:14:31.098 of people out there can relate to. 0:14:31.128 --> 0:14:34.698 I was very surprised. Like, yeah you can't accommodate that 0:14:34.698 --> 0:14:37.278 on all flights. You know I understand if they can't, 0:14:37.308 --> 0:14:39.918 you know, have the extra staff there or something. But 0:14:39.948 --> 0:14:42.588 you know, you can't get someone to the end of 0:14:42.588 --> 0:14:45.948 the checkout saying, oh okay, I'm going to get supported. 0:14:45.948 --> 0:14:48.408 That's like a right of mine as a person with 0:14:48.408 --> 0:14:50.718 a disability. And then you get to the checkout and 0:14:50.718 --> 0:14:54.168 it says, oh, we can't accommodate that. That's not right. Mhm. Um, 0:14:54.168 --> 0:14:56.718 but yeah. So I'll stop complaining. 0:14:56.998 --> 0:15:00.628 That's all. It's not complaining and it shouldn't feel like complaining. 0:15:00.628 --> 0:15:03.328 It should feel like advocating. I think that's the word 0:15:03.328 --> 0:15:05.488 we're going for here because it is important. 0:15:05.638 --> 0:15:06.718 To be able to get around. 0:15:06.748 --> 0:15:08.698 Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. 0:15:08.998 --> 0:15:11.938 That'll be fun. So hopefully if that all goes well, 0:15:11.968 --> 0:15:14.818 then I'll fly home and I won't get stuck at 0:15:14.818 --> 0:15:15.928 the airport. No. 0:15:15.958 --> 0:15:26.098 We'll see how it goes. Yeah. I'm Sam Culley and 0:15:26.098 --> 0:15:31.378 you're listening to Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio, Associated 0:15:31.378 --> 0:15:37.108 Stations of Reading Radio and the Community Radio Network. I 0:15:37.108 --> 0:15:41.518 hope you enjoyed part one of my conversation today with 0:15:41.518 --> 0:15:46.558 low vision performer Jeremy Moses. If you missed any part 0:15:46.588 --> 0:15:50.548 of my conversation with Jeremy today or you'd love to 0:15:50.578 --> 0:15:55.168 hear it again, Talking Vision is available on the podcast 0:15:55.198 --> 0:15:59.108 app of your choice or through the Vision Australia Library. 0:15:59.138 --> 0:16:03.158 You can also find the program on the Vision Australia 0:16:03.158 --> 0:16:11.408 Radio website at RVA radio.org. That's RVA radio all one word.org. 0:16:11.498 --> 0:16:16.808 But now back to part two of my conversation with Jeremy. 0:16:16.838 --> 0:16:21.368 I'm here today with comedian Jeremy Moses, heading off very 0:16:21.368 --> 0:16:25.268 shortly to the Sydney Fringe Festival and then back in 0:16:25.268 --> 0:16:30.338 Melbourne for the fringe in early October. Now, Jeremy, before 0:16:30.338 --> 0:16:35.138 the break, you mentioned accessible venues there and your show 0:16:35.138 --> 0:16:38.078 at the Melbourne Fringe. You're in a venue that has 0:16:38.078 --> 0:16:42.248 met those requirements for you and the audience, but it 0:16:42.248 --> 0:16:46.028 must be a little bit frustrating for you and no 0:16:46.028 --> 0:16:50.618 doubt other performers who've gone through the same thing with 0:16:50.618 --> 0:16:54.578 the Sydney Fringe, which is in a venue that's not 0:16:54.578 --> 0:16:58.668 as Accessible as it could be, so I'm keen to 0:16:58.698 --> 0:17:00.738 get your thoughts about that. 0:17:00.768 --> 0:17:04.878 Yeah, I sort of understand why it's hard to accommodate 0:17:04.878 --> 0:17:08.838 that in Sydney, where the Factory Theatre in Marrickville, which 0:17:08.838 --> 0:17:10.758 is a lovely venue and there are a lot of 0:17:10.758 --> 0:17:14.448 performance spaces and I think a couple of them are accessible, 0:17:14.448 --> 0:17:16.818 but it's just, you know, when you're curating a festival 0:17:16.818 --> 0:17:19.038 and you're in an old building, it's it's hard to 0:17:19.068 --> 0:17:22.908 accommodate everyone and it's a curated festival. So it was 0:17:22.908 --> 0:17:25.548 a little bit more tricky to kind of organise a 0:17:25.548 --> 0:17:29.058 separate venue that was elsewhere. But there are some great 0:17:29.058 --> 0:17:34.878 shows at the Sydney Fringe for accessibility and disabled performers performing. 0:17:34.908 --> 0:17:37.248 There's some amazing stuff coming up that I'm going to 0:17:37.248 --> 0:17:39.768 go and try and see as well. Yeah, it's a 0:17:39.768 --> 0:17:42.348 shame that those two shows that I'm doing in Sydney 0:17:42.348 --> 0:17:45.198 aren't step free, but otherwise I'm going to try and 0:17:45.198 --> 0:17:48.348 make it as like inclusive as possible. And I'd love 0:17:48.348 --> 0:17:51.618 people to feel comfortable and it's got steps to get 0:17:51.618 --> 0:17:55.318 to the venue, but it's hopefully other than that, it's okay. Yeah, 0:17:55.318 --> 0:17:58.438 the Melbourne Fringe is definitely amazing that they're doing all 0:17:58.438 --> 0:18:01.798 these accessible sessions and the gigs that I did, the 0:18:01.798 --> 0:18:04.798 shows that I did for Melbourne Fringe last year, I 0:18:04.798 --> 0:18:08.068 had an accessible venue and we had a matinee as well, 0:18:08.068 --> 0:18:10.918 and for the comedy festival as well in Melbourne, you know, 0:18:10.948 --> 0:18:14.878 I understand it's hard to to get every venue accessible, 0:18:14.878 --> 0:18:17.308 but I'm glad to be part of it anyway. And 0:18:17.308 --> 0:18:20.248 Sydney Fringe is amazing and they're really nice to have 0:18:20.248 --> 0:18:22.108 me there and I'm excited to do it. 0:18:22.108 --> 0:18:27.148 And from your personal perspective, what's the most useful, accessible 0:18:27.148 --> 0:18:31.948 features for you in particular, when you're asking for venues 0:18:31.948 --> 0:18:35.368 that accommodate the needs you have, what's been the most 0:18:35.368 --> 0:18:39.688 helpful things, and how have you gone getting those features 0:18:39.688 --> 0:18:42.598 in the past over the couple of years that you've 0:18:42.598 --> 0:18:43.768 been in comedy now? 0:18:43.798 --> 0:18:46.198 Yeah, I think if you can pick your own venue, 0:18:46.228 --> 0:18:49.708 then you should be looking for accessible venues for yourself 0:18:49.708 --> 0:18:53.038 and for the audience. For me, I struggled to kind 0:18:53.068 --> 0:18:55.358 of get up on a high stage. Like if the 0:18:55.358 --> 0:18:58.538 stage is too high, the MC will have to like 0:18:58.568 --> 0:19:01.328 give me a hand up onto the stage or, you know, 0:19:01.358 --> 0:19:04.568 I'll have to, you know, find some stairs or use 0:19:04.568 --> 0:19:07.328 a cane to jump up on the stage or something. 0:19:07.328 --> 0:19:11.138 So for me, stage height is a big issue like 0:19:11.168 --> 0:19:14.288 anxiety point. But you know, I can make it work 0:19:14.318 --> 0:19:18.038 if it's not low to the ground. As far as 0:19:18.068 --> 0:19:20.918 for the audience, I would love it if every gig 0:19:20.918 --> 0:19:25.958 that I did was an accessible, wheelchair accessible show. I'd 0:19:25.958 --> 0:19:28.388 love it if there was, you know, wheelchair accessible bathrooms 0:19:28.388 --> 0:19:31.658 and it was all up to up to code. Um, unfortunately, 0:19:31.658 --> 0:19:36.398 a lot of venues everywhere don't have enough accessible spaces. 0:19:36.398 --> 0:19:38.648 But yeah, when, when I when I'm able to pick 0:19:38.648 --> 0:19:41.648 my own venue, which, which I did last year and 0:19:41.648 --> 0:19:44.318 this year for the two festivals I did, um, we 0:19:44.318 --> 0:19:47.348 made sure to get an accessible venue and, and we 0:19:47.348 --> 0:19:50.438 had a visually impaired person in the audience. We had 0:19:50.438 --> 0:19:54.678 a wheelchair. Audience member for the Melbourne Comedy Festival. We 0:19:54.678 --> 0:19:57.588 had a comedian with a disability opening up one of 0:19:57.588 --> 0:20:02.118 my shows last year, Oliver Hunter, who's like this amazing comedian. 0:20:02.118 --> 0:20:04.668 And because the venue was accessible and we had a 0:20:04.668 --> 0:20:06.738 ramp to the stage, and so he was able to 0:20:06.738 --> 0:20:09.888 get up on the stage and perform. Usually when I 0:20:09.888 --> 0:20:11.898 see him, he's, you know, at a venue where he's 0:20:11.898 --> 0:20:14.718 parked in front of the stage because it's not accessible. 0:20:14.718 --> 0:20:19.158 And a lot of his gigs are limited because of accessibility. Um, 0:20:19.158 --> 0:20:22.788 so yeah, I would love to be performing exclusively in 0:20:22.788 --> 0:20:25.668 accessible venues, and God willing, that'll be the way things 0:20:25.668 --> 0:20:29.118 go then. I'm in Melbourne. That's it. The Melbourne Fringe. 0:20:29.118 --> 0:20:32.508 With your other show, Emily Bigger and Jeremy Moses here. 0:20:33.018 --> 0:20:37.338 See No Evil. So that's at the festival hub of 0:20:37.368 --> 0:20:40.878 a few days in early October, so that'll be pretty cool. 0:20:40.908 --> 0:20:42.048 Tell us a bit about that. 0:20:42.078 --> 0:20:44.868 Yeah, it's a it's a new show. It's very vaudeville. 0:20:44.868 --> 0:20:49.578 It's very old fashioned comedy. We have costume changes and 0:20:49.578 --> 0:20:52.698 we sing and we dance and we act and and 0:20:52.698 --> 0:20:56.488 we miscommunicate because she's hearing impaired and I'm low vision. 0:20:56.488 --> 0:21:00.148 And so we, um, we fight with each other and, 0:21:00.148 --> 0:21:03.568 and and we steal each other's spotlight and we try 0:21:03.568 --> 0:21:05.548 and put on the best show possible. I love that. 0:21:05.578 --> 0:21:08.528 And yeah. So that's going to be October 2nd to 0:21:08.528 --> 0:21:13.288 October 6th at the Trades Hall Festival Hub. It's in Carlton. 0:21:13.378 --> 0:21:14.998 It's going to be a lot of fun. And we've 0:21:14.998 --> 0:21:18.118 got some accessible sessions as well. And the venue is 0:21:18.118 --> 0:21:20.848 accessible this time, which I'm really excited about. 0:21:20.878 --> 0:21:25.018 That's fantastic news. Yeah. Okay. Well, you've told us about 0:21:25.018 --> 0:21:28.528 the conceptions of both of those shows, but how long 0:21:28.558 --> 0:21:31.618 have those ideas sort of been there? I mean, a 0:21:31.618 --> 0:21:35.068 lot of it's, you know, life experience and things you've 0:21:35.068 --> 0:21:39.268 always known about and had experiences of and then putting 0:21:39.268 --> 0:21:42.538 that into comedy, as you've said a lot more recently. 0:21:42.568 --> 0:21:44.458 Was that sort of how it came about? 0:21:44.488 --> 0:21:47.308 Yeah, for my solo show, it was more just like 0:21:47.338 --> 0:21:50.458 an itch to be able to explain my disability if 0:21:50.458 --> 0:21:54.758 someone asked. But in like a more concise and, you know, 0:21:54.788 --> 0:21:59.918 funny way. Um, and it took me researching the disability 0:21:59.948 --> 0:22:02.678 a bit more and figuring out the origins of it. 0:22:02.678 --> 0:22:05.108 And then I was like, that's a show. And I'll 0:22:05.138 --> 0:22:08.828 use the the poetry as a way to frame that. Um, 0:22:08.828 --> 0:22:12.128 so that's my solo show. Yeah, that's where that came from. 0:22:12.128 --> 0:22:14.948 And the poetry that I did in lockdown with the 0:22:14.978 --> 0:22:18.998 Hear No Evil show, basically, when I was doing open 0:22:18.998 --> 0:22:21.938 mic nights in the lead up to the festivals, I 0:22:21.938 --> 0:22:26.228 met Emily. She's an amazing comedian, deaf, hard of hearing. 0:22:26.228 --> 0:22:29.948 She's a regular in the Melbourne comedy scene. Emily Bigger. 0:22:29.978 --> 0:22:33.638 She's brilliant and we hit it off straight away. She's 0:22:33.638 --> 0:22:37.118 really funny and she talks a lot about her disability. 0:22:37.118 --> 0:22:40.898 And we have like a fun chemistry where she can't 0:22:40.928 --> 0:22:44.108 hear everything I say and I can't see everything that 0:22:44.108 --> 0:22:47.108 she gestures. But we, we, we sort of come together 0:22:47.108 --> 0:22:49.478 in like, this really beautiful way. And it's a great 0:22:49.478 --> 0:22:53.118 show and we support each other and it's really fun. Yeah, 0:22:53.118 --> 0:22:56.088 it's a lot of, um, you know, sound cues and 0:22:56.088 --> 0:22:59.298 lighting and dramatic scenes, and we go on a little 0:22:59.298 --> 0:23:02.058 journey together. It's really good fun. I'm really enjoying. 0:23:02.058 --> 0:23:06.498 It. You've spoken about the importance of having comedy that 0:23:06.498 --> 0:23:11.268 includes everyone, and comedy that makes everybody feel included and 0:23:11.268 --> 0:23:14.118 safe and like they're not going to get attacked when 0:23:14.118 --> 0:23:16.338 they're in the audience and all that sort of thing. 0:23:16.338 --> 0:23:19.698 That's a huge thing for people to have that safe place, 0:23:19.698 --> 0:23:22.758 I guess you'd call it. So. Was that the primary 0:23:22.758 --> 0:23:25.878 motivation for that sort of thing, or were there some 0:23:25.878 --> 0:23:29.748 other positive messages that you also wanted to get across 0:23:29.748 --> 0:23:30.588 to people? 0:23:30.858 --> 0:23:34.698 Oh, accessibility is definitely at the heart of both shows, 0:23:34.698 --> 0:23:40.008 like being inclusive and accessible and diverse. It's very, very 0:23:40.008 --> 0:23:43.518 important and I would love more productions to do that. 0:23:43.728 --> 0:23:47.898 I would love more websites to have accessibility information because 0:23:47.898 --> 0:23:51.748 that helps us navigate the world. Knowing where to go. 0:23:51.748 --> 0:23:55.288 And it's great. And I think there is progress happening. 0:23:55.288 --> 0:23:58.198 I think, you know, in comedy, disability isn't as much 0:23:58.198 --> 0:24:01.528 of a punchline anymore since me and Emily and people 0:24:01.528 --> 0:24:04.348 with lived experience have gotten up and, you know, sort 0:24:04.378 --> 0:24:07.588 of changed the scene a bit. Comedy is more diverse now, 0:24:07.588 --> 0:24:10.708 and I think comedians are less mean than they were 0:24:10.708 --> 0:24:13.678 when I started, or at least rooms are more diverse. 0:24:13.678 --> 0:24:17.548 And I've seen a change which I hope continues, and 0:24:17.698 --> 0:24:19.588 it's great to be part of it. I'm really proud 0:24:19.588 --> 0:24:22.438 to be part of that change. Yeah, it's definitely a 0:24:22.438 --> 0:24:25.258 big part of what we do. And with the Melbourne 0:24:25.258 --> 0:24:28.438 show and we're at the Trades Hall, which is fully 0:24:28.438 --> 0:24:33.508 accessible and we're doing a sensory friendly matinee on the Saturday. 0:24:33.508 --> 0:24:36.508 It's going to be relaxed and sensory friendly, so the 0:24:36.508 --> 0:24:39.328 Houselights will be on for the whole show. The stage 0:24:39.328 --> 0:24:42.688 lights will be lower, people can come and go, people 0:24:42.688 --> 0:24:46.528 can use their phones, there's a quiet room and there's 0:24:46.528 --> 0:24:50.008 more staff. We're just trying to make it very inclusive 0:24:50.008 --> 0:24:52.868 and there are a few shows that the Melbourne fringe 0:24:52.868 --> 0:24:56.348 that are also doing that Saturday matinee, which is an 0:24:56.348 --> 0:24:59.168 amazing initiative and power to the fringe for doing it. 0:24:59.168 --> 0:25:02.348 So that's great. And then we're doing an Auslan interpreted 0:25:02.408 --> 0:25:05.798 session on the Sunday to cater to Emily's crowd, you know, 0:25:05.828 --> 0:25:09.428 people who need Auslan interpreting. And so it's great. Yeah, 0:25:09.458 --> 0:25:12.578 we're trying to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. 0:25:12.578 --> 0:25:15.938 And if people would love to head along or find 0:25:15.938 --> 0:25:19.658 out a little bit more about both of your shows, Jeremy, 0:25:19.688 --> 0:25:23.078 what's the best way for them to do that? Do 0:25:23.078 --> 0:25:26.648 you have some contact details that you'd like to let 0:25:26.678 --> 0:25:27.788 people know about? 0:25:27.818 --> 0:25:31.718 Yeah, so I'm in Sydney at Sydney Fringe Comedy, which 0:25:31.718 --> 0:25:35.078 is like a subset of the Sydney Fringe Festival. So 0:25:35.078 --> 0:25:39.878 you can get tickets at Fringe Comedy. Com.au and you 0:25:39.878 --> 0:25:42.698 just search for Jeremy Moses and it'll come up with 0:25:42.698 --> 0:25:46.898 my 157 hours of bad slam poetry show. And yeah, 0:25:46.898 --> 0:25:50.498 that's on the 21st and 22nd of September. It'll be 0:25:50.538 --> 0:25:53.898 a lot of fun. Please come along. You'll laugh, you'll cry. 0:25:54.378 --> 0:25:57.198 It'll be great. And then, um, back in Melbourne, I'm 0:25:57.198 --> 0:26:01.248 doing here. See? No evil with Emily. And so if 0:26:01.248 --> 0:26:05.628 you want tickets to that, go to Melbourne Fringe. Com.au 0:26:05.658 --> 0:26:12.078 or call 96609666 and you can get tickets to that 0:26:12.078 --> 0:26:14.298 as well. And you please come. It'll be a lot 0:26:14.328 --> 0:26:17.838 of fun. And we've got those accessible sessions and we'd 0:26:17.838 --> 0:26:18.948 love to have you. 0:26:18.978 --> 0:26:23.568 I've been speaking today with Jeremy Moses, comedian, heading off 0:26:23.568 --> 0:26:29.658 to the Sydney Fringe Festival later in the month, but 0:26:29.658 --> 0:26:33.348 you'll also catch up with him back in Melbourne in 0:26:33.348 --> 0:26:38.388 early October at the Melbourne Fringe. Jeremy, thanks so much 0:26:38.418 --> 0:26:40.968 for your time today. Great to catch up with you 0:26:40.968 --> 0:26:43.308 and hear all about your shows. 0:26:43.698 --> 0:26:45.048 Thanks so much, Sam. 0:26:51.838 --> 0:26:54.958 And that's all the time we have for today. You've 0:26:54.988 --> 0:26:59.188 been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision 0:26:59.218 --> 0:27:03.388 Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the 0:27:03.388 --> 0:27:07.588 show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you. 0:27:07.588 --> 0:27:10.858 So please get in touch any time on our email 0:27:10.858 --> 0:27:16.168 at Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org. That's talking vision or 0:27:16.168 --> 0:27:20.968 one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's 0:27:20.968 --> 0:27:23.428 Sam Colley saying bye for now. 0:27:26.878 --> 0:27:31.048 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:27:31.048 --> 0:27:40.948 business hours on 1300 847 406. That's one (300) 847-4106 or by visiting 0:27:40.948 --> 0:27:45.448 Vision australia.org. That's Vision australia.org.