Eric Idle brings his Sortabiography to Adelaide

In a whirlwind tour of Australia’s eastern cities, Idle will kick off in Adelaide and finish eight days later in Melbourne. The tour comes as part of wider tour to promote the book, including speaking engagements in the UK and US.

Idle was one of the six founding members of the Monty Python comedy troupe, who, in the midst of the 20th century’s counter-culture revolution, pioneered a brand of sketch comedy that was as satirical as it was deeply absurd. Going on to make multiple series of the Monty Python’s Flying Circus and subsequent films including The Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life and The Holy Grail, the pythons remain a memorable and influential group.

Having come up in that era, Idle rubbed shoulders with other icons of the time, including the likes of David Bowie, Steve Martin and Mick Jagger. As such, Idle’s memoir promises an insight into the life and times of these individuals, as well as his own, in a characteristically funny fashion.

Idle also went on to act and write for film, television and stage in the intervening years, notably penning the Tony Award-winning musical Spamalot.

The Hawke Centre’s executive director Jacinta Thompson says the centre is excited to host Idle as part of his national tour, and glad to offer this as a free event, with space for at least 1000 attendees at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

“He is highly talented and his work is still being seen and heard,” Thompson says. “Most people would be able to spin some lines from those films or songs, especially Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, which is just a classic.”

Thompson says that registration for the event is speedily filling up, thanks to his popularity with audiences of all ages, and the continued resonance of Monty Python.

“Having chatted with younger people, and asking them if they know about Monty Python, I think there’s a real resurgence of people watching their movies and skits, and really enjoying their humour… On some level, if you look at it politically and socially, they had a lot to say back then but it’s still quite relevant today, especially recently with what’s going on.”

Registration for the Adelaide event can be made here.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography by Eric Idle will be released in Australia from October 4 on hardback, audio and digital formats.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography Australia Book Tour Dates

Adelaide
Thursday, November 22, 6:30pm
Adelaide Convention Centre

Brisbane
Friday, November 23, 6:30pm
Brisbane Powerhouse

Sunshine Coast
Saturday, November 24, 6pm
Innovation Centre

Sydney
Tuesday, November 27, 7:30pm
Seymour Centre (as part of the Sydney Writers’ Festival)

Canberra
Wednesday, November 28, 6pm
Llewellyn Hall

Melbourne
Friday, November 30, 7:30pm
Melbourne Athenaeum