Buzz Magazine Buzz Magazine - July Issue | Page 14

THE RIP-ROARING
ADVENTURES OF
RHYS DARBY
Though he is best known for portraying the haphazard and
mild-mannered band manager Murray in sitcom Flight Of The
Conchords, this Kiwi comic is an explorer at heart. Rhys Darby
tells Heather Arnold where he got his sense of adventure from,
and what we can expect from his new show Mr Adventure.

Your new show is all about adventure –
have you always had a passion for tales
of adventure?
Yes, as a kid I was obsessed with the Tintin books.
Then I saw Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom
at the cinema. By then, aged 10, I was hooked on the
genre. I read and watched anything that resembled
my heroes Tintin and Indy. Of course I found Alan
Quatermain and King Solomon’s mines and it wasn’t
long before I started to dive into the non-fiction
side of things... the mysteries of Ancient Egypt, the
Mayans and the secret tribes of the Amazon. I’ve
kept this interest going right into my adult years. 

took a five-hour journey across the wild countryside
in a dusty Land Rover to find his village. We found
it near the Zambezi river overlooking Mozambique.
Finn and Osbert were a little shy meeting each other,
but it wasn’t long before we were all playing frisbee.

You’ve been in the army, travelled the
world and are planning the world’s
‘highest stand-up gig’. How do you
choose what adventures to go on?
Adventures choose you! Tintin was usually just
going about his day when suddenly one thing led
to another and before he knew it he was running
along the roof of a train bound for Bangladesh! I’d
love to say that happens to me but the reality is, as a
famous comedian I get asked to go to faraway lands,
to entertain live or for TV. I always go off the beaten
track and explore what a city or village has to offer. 

What has been your favourite adventure
so far?
 Last year my family and I visited a remote village in
Zambia. We were already in Tanzania, as I had just
climbed Mt Kilimanjaro. My wife Rosie suggested we
visit the little boy we sponsor through Child Fund.
His name is Osbert and he’s eight, the same age as
my eldest son Finn. Once we landed in Zambia we

“Ahh...the D.I.C.s
club. ”

BUZZ 14

Is there anything on your ‘bucket list’ that
you’re hoping to tick off next?
I’m kinda waiting for my kids to get bigger. They’re
both very keen to go on adventures too. Once they’re
of appropriate age we’ll see how the world is looking
politically then plan our next move. It will most likely
be South America though. I’d say Machu Picchu will
be next on our list. Then we’ll find Atlantis.

Can you tell me about the Dangerous
Intelligence Commandos club?
Ahh... the D.I.C.s club. Well, I could tell you but then
I’d have to kill you. Actually no, we changed that rule.
Yes, I can tell you but you have to promise not to
laugh. That’s the new rule, mind you a giggle is fine,
or even a snicker. Oh hang on that’s a chocolate bar...
Is it? When I was 15 and 16, the age most boys are
chasing girls, Gavin, Chris, Phil and I were doing much
more important things like camping next to military
sites and patrolling through endangered forests. We’d
go on secret missions carrying army surplus gear,
maps and canteens. It was all adventure, very Stand
By Me stuff. None of us had any luck with girls or got
invited to any parties, you see. Chris got sad once
when Gavin sat on his marshmallows. 

Do you enjoy creating adventures and
telling stories to your sons?
Yes very much so and they’re really into it as
well. I’m all about the make-believe. I often play
‘adventures’ with my boys. They love dressing
up and looking for lost treasure. I’m actually
writing a book at the moment about my lads.
It’s called The Adventures Of Finny Fashion
And Kung Fu Boo. Boo is the little one, Theo
aged four.
Did you always think you would be
pursuing a career in comedy? What do
you enjoy about it?
No, I thought I was going to be a park ranger. That
was my initial idea. Then of course I became a soldier.
I had visions of leading an army into battle. I think
I watched too many war films there. All through my
childhood and teenage years, though, ‘being funny’
was my default state. So eventually, a career in
comedy made sense. 
Why did you decide to leave the army? Did
you enjoy your time there?
I very much enjoyed my time in the army. I was a
communications and electronics operator for the
Royal New Zealand Signals Corps but after three and
a half years I realized that I was meant for bigger
things. I couldn’t face the idea of being a military
man and living in a military house. Tintin would never
stand for that.