Comedian, writer and performer Steve Hili tells Iggy Fenech about scripts, jokes and being worshipped as a god by certain tribes in Papua New Guinea.

“I have been doing comedy for years in different forms – from radio to theatre with a bit of TV thrown in, too. A couple of years ago, a local stand-up scene developed in Malta and I was very much involved in that as well.

“Last year I moved to London and now work here as a comedian. As a writer and performer, I gig all over the country – and, sometimes, I am lucky enough to get booked in Europe. I’m resident MC in a club here in London, too, and I write for magazines, the stage, and TV.

“Nevertheless, I still try to get involved in the Maltese scene, and I write and direct my adult panto every summer, while, every Christmas, it’s Comedy Knights time... Wow, I’m pretty darn amazing when you think about it!”

That is how Steve Hili answered when I asked him to tell me about his career. And I realised straight away that, for this man, false modesty wasn’t an issue.

But it also made me smile. I mean, how many people would give such an honest answer when asked about their career? While some try to downplay their achievements and others inflate them, Steve just gave the facts – and, as it happens, while stating said facts it also dawned on him that he was actually quite a cool guy; one of Malta’s best-loved, most-followed and influential comedians, in fact!

You will be able to catch Steve do his thing with local pop culture on the stage of the Salesian Theatre this month as part of the Comedy Knights. Today, the name Comedy Knights is synonymous with Christmas and comedy, political satire and punchy one-liners. But, two Christmases ago, they were virtually unknown. How did it all begin.

“I have known Wesley Ellul, the director and producer of the Comedy Knights, for years and, before the first edition, he got in touch and asked me if I fancied being part of it,” recounts Steve. “I jumped at the chance. I had done the traditional Christmas panto a few times and, even though I had enjoyed that, this seemed like the opportunity to do something different.

I know the Sliema Girls and Mixall, like they were real people, and I know exactly how they would react in certain situations

“That year, I wrote a number of sketches and songs and I performed, too. What a pro, huh?” he quips. “Unfortunately, however, last year I couldn’t make it back to Malta. While that meant I couldn’t perform, I still wrote a number of pieces that I am really proud of. But I have to admit that I missed being on that stage, so this year I used the show as the perfect excuse to come home for the Christmas holidays.”

The Comedy Knights are re-nowned for taking the mickey out of, literally, everything and everyone. Just last year we had sketches about Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, a sketch about Mixall Muscat, another about Normal Lowell, one about the MEPA Board and one about the festa –this, festa – that trend that has taken over local villages.

But what really gets the audiences is that the Comedy Knights do all this with a moral conscience and, many-a-time, audiences find themselves laughing heartily at something, while suddenly realising exactly how hypocritical a certain way of thinking is. The million euro question being, of course, where do they get the inspiration from?

“It depends,” Steve answers. “Obviously, the director has certain ideas that he passes on to me; ideas which I, ahem, sometimes pretend to have somehow missed. Also, Chris Dingli – who is the other main writer of the show – and I chat quite often to bounce ideas off each other.”

News websites and social media portals also enable the writers to get a handle on what is going on and how it can be used to inspire a couple of laughs, Steve continues.

“Then, there are characters that we are all familiar with, such as the Sliema Girls and Mixall. They have pretty much become real people and I know exactly how they would react in certain situations. Once you reach that stage, it is easier to write for them.”

Needless to say, good writing is important, but bringing all these characters to life also requires the input of the director and the troupe of familiar names who take on the roles of these characters – Pia Zammit, Chris Dingli, Marc Cabourdin, Jo Caruana, Thomas Camilleri, Colin Fitz and Larissa Bonaci.

“Me! They get to experience me,” Steve adds. “So, it’s well worth the ticket price, right? Oh, and I’d just like to add that I have heard I am worshipped as a god by certain tribes in Papua New Guinea. So, if any members of those tribes are reading, I salute them.”

Well, you have got to love this guy.

The Comedy Knights’ Three Times Funnier powered by XFM runs between December 26 and January 4 at the Salesian Theatre, Sliema, excluding New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Tickets are available online.

www.ticketline.com.mt