After almost a year without live shows, comedian Luke Morris has gone from writing jokes to writing a new book.
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The coronavirus pandemic has heavily limited opportunities for performers leaving Morris to compile his material into a book.
His book - Love, Sweat and Science - is an exaggerated autobiography that focuses on Morris' interactions with people.
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"While working from home, I thought I would dig out my material and make it into a book," he said.
"(It is) from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival show I did in 2019. There was a lot of stuff I had to cut out after a year of germinating ideas.
"But (my material) was never formed as an uncut version. So the book is correlating all that together for the first time.
"I remember performing (the original show) and the next night was making it better. The people who saw the last version saw the best version until the book."
Morris was set to return to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year before COVID-19 hit.
He said he had spent a year preparing for the gig.
"We had a virtual reality comedy show that a was a special spectacular," he said. "It was all set to go but as it turned out, it wasn't to be.
"To say (I spent) a year on it is realistic. You get those strands (of jokes) and work them on stage in different ways, link them with other jokes or find something else."
Morris is looking forward to getting back on stage for shows in November with gigs planned for the Cambrian Hotel and Handle Bar.
"The (Melbourne) comedy festival cancelled was a real heart break. It was a year's worth of work that went nowhere," he said. "I tried doing zoom gigs but standing in a room by yourself, the atmosphere is just not there.
"The past few months, I write joke, re-work it time and again but have no outlet for it. It's like someone at the starting block, tense and ready to run, then having to stand and hold indefinitely.
"But there is an open mic night planned at the Cambrian next month and the return of Handle Bar Comedy as well. Seating is low but everyone is keen. People want to get on stage to hone their craft again and audiences want to experience the euphoria of live entertainment again."
Love, Sweat and Science by Luke Morris is out on November 5. For pre-orders visit https://gumroad.com/lukemorrisha
Chris Pedler
Chris has been with the Bendigo Advertiser for more than 10 years. He has great passion for the performing arts and is very supportive of the Bendigo live music scene. Outside of the news world Chris plays golf and, regardless of the result, loves watching St Kilda play in the AFL. He loves community theatre and has performed on stage with the Bendigo Theatre Company and worked with Baldrick himself, Tony Robinson. Story tips: chris.pedler@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Chris has been with the Bendigo Advertiser for more than 10 years. He has great passion for the performing arts and is very supportive of the Bendigo live music scene. Outside of the news world Chris plays golf and, regardless of the result, loves watching St Kilda play in the AFL. He loves community theatre and has performed on stage with the Bendigo Theatre Company and worked with Baldrick himself, Tony Robinson. Story tips: chris.pedler@austcommunitymedia.com.au
