David McSavage has turned an unfulfilled film to a stand up-show

David McSavage has turned an unfulfilled film into a stand-up show, writes Richard Fitzpatrick

David McSavage — creator of The Savage Eye, one of the best Irish TV comedy series since the days of Father Ted — has tried on a lot of hats in the entertainment industry, which stretches back to days busking in Tokyo almost 30 years ago.

He’s acted in several straight roles over the last few years, including scenes in the Channel 4 series The Virtues and George Clooney’s adaptation of Joseph Heller’s Catch-22.

“They’re very small roles,” he says. “In terms of artistic achievement, writing sketches and performing in them is a greater achievement. They’re bit parts in big TV series. Catch-22 was an experience in that you get to meet f**kin’ meet George Clooney, who was directing it, if that’s what you’re into.

"He’s a nice, down-to-earth bloke, very focused. He wanted to make everyone feel at ease because obviously people were slightly intimidated because of his fame.”

One of McSavage’s more notable cameos was his role in John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary. He did a great job portraying the bishop in the film, the subtle mannerisms in particular, drawing from his experiences as a student taught by Catholic priests and his own mimicry skills.

“Those priests at school kind of behaved like royalty,” says McSavage. “They had a sort of mannered way about them. Some of them were OK, but a lot of them — when you look back — were quite creepy. Also the whole unnaturalness of celibacy. And we know now there would have been a lot of closeted gay men. It was a strange atmosphere.

“And they were no more religious either... they didn’t believe in what they were droning on about. If they did, the sermons would have been a lot more exciting.

If you go to mass, they could be talking about what should be the greatest news ever like they were announcing trains arriving.

McSavage currently has several projects on the go. He’s converted the source material from a film script, Poor Me and The Bastards, which he’d financed with the Irish Film Board TV (but the director dropped out and he lost interest) into a stand-up show, which he’s touring at the moment. He’s joined Instagram, with the hope of transforming that following into ticket sales.

“Then you don’t have to deal with RTÉ or whatever,” he says.

He’s also recorded several episodes of a new podcast series, name undecided, which have yet to broadcast. His guests include investigative sports reporter David Walsh, former boxer Michael Carruth and Kate McGrew, a prostitute who runs Sex Workers Alliance Ireland. “That was fascinating,” he says, “just asking logistical questions about prostitution, sex acts, the kind of people she has sex with.”

McSavage continues to operate outside the mainstream. He has a fearlessness — a knack for saying uncomfortable things — that is rare on the Irish comedy scene. It can’t always be easy trying to eke out a living in showbusiness, hawking live DVDs on the street around Christmas, for example, but money has never been a motivating factor for him.

“Anytime I’ve had a lot of money, it’s always made me feel a little uncomfortable because you start to see the numbers go down. It’s nice to just have enough. Having been a street performer for so long, I know I can always just go out and make money.

"I don’t think it’s a sign of being clever to be able to make money. A lot of really stupid people are very rich. If you really want to create wealth for yourself, you can.

“As a comedian, you don’t retire. You keep going until you die or something. I don’t worry about making a living. I’ve learnt my craft. I’m good at what I do.

“I can always sell enough tickets to pay the rent, buy food and take out young women to restaurants and dazzle them with my charm.”

David McSavage will perform on Saturday, December 21 at City Limits Comedy Club, Cork. thecomedyclub.ie