He remains fascinated by the art of comedy and improvisation, constantly honing his craft in front of live audiences; something he has done since high school.
Born in Melbourne to Sicilian parents, who both came from Catania, Liotta began acting at a young age.
“I grew up in theatre,” Liotta explains.
“I’ve been going to these places since I was little; it’s in my blood.”
The comedian credits his father, an actor and a producer of Italian plays, for leading him to the entertainment industry and for bolstering his desire to work with the general public.
Even though he’d been working for a few years, Liotta was so captivated by the field that in his late teens he decided to begin a Diploma of Drama and Theatre at Melbourne Polytechnic (NMIT).
“I decided to start studying as a means of improving my abilities so that I could have my own show one day,” Liotta says.
“It’s essential for entertainers to know how to put on their own show, because you can’t just wait for someone to call you.”
A few years later, Liotta has accomplished what he set out to do and is producing his own show.
He shares the stage with friend and colleague Piero Viavattene, who is also a producer on the show.
The pair met seven years ago and became fast friends, leading to a professional collaboration that has continued to this day, delighting audiences all across Australia and selling thousands of tickets at each venue.
Pippo & Pasquale Live is true to the form of a classic variety show: full of sketches and a variety of colourful characters.
“At times, there’ll be different characters on stage, and at others, Piero and I will be ourselves,” Liotta elaborates.
“There’ll also be some videos, which will give us time to change the sets and our costumes.”
Liotta’s background as an Italo-Australian informs much of his comedy.
“I’m aware that I owe a large part of my success to the stories I tell onstage,” Liotta says.
“These stories are inspired by the events that happened around me, in my life.
“Piero and Pasquale, the two characters that Piero and I play in the new show are heavily influenced by our Sicilian families.
“They started out as online characters but for the past five years we’ve been taking them live on stage across Australia.
“These characters are inspired by our parents and our grandparents.”
While Liotta acknowledges that Italy and Italian culture is a common thread throughout his work, he is keen to impress that his show is accessible for everyone.
Though the characters he has created are inspired by people with Italian heritage, their dialogues are, for the most part, in English.
“We’re lucky to live in such a multicultural society,” Liotta says.
“It means that everyone can see someone they know reflected in our jokes and make them their own.
“We all know someone who wasn’t born in Australia, or who has been very influenced by their cultural background.
“Though Piero and I have Italian heritage, our show isn’t just for Italian people.”
Pippo & Pasquale Live will be entertaining audiences until the end of the year, across Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane, with dates to be confirmed in the coming months.
This Sunday, April 3, Liotta will be the host at the Melbourne Italian Festa in Lygon Street, the historic centre of Carlton, where Italian culture has played a fundamental role in the urban and cultural development of the area.
“I’ve been a presenter for the Festa over 20 times; it’s an event that I care deeply about,” Liotta says.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
On April 8 and April 9, the comedic pair will play at the Darebin Arts Centre in Melbourne, before moving on to regional Victoria.
In May, the duo will take to the stage at La Fiera Italian Festival in Myrtleford, where Liotta will also be the presenter.
“I’ve been doing this job for more than 25 years ,” Liotta says.
“I feel so lucky because I’m so passionate about my work and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.”
