The idea that women aren’t funny is laughable, especially after seeing the line-up of female comedians taking the stage at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival over the next few weeks.
Among the funny women involved are American comedian Anjelah Johnson who has become a viral sensation with her stand up routine Nail Salon, Australian comedian and commentator Mel Buttle and Edinburgh prize winning performer, Adrienne Truscott.
Check out the rest of the female comedians to watch out for at this years¹s comedy festival and make sure you scroll down to read the chat between comedian Rebecca De Unamuno and our friends over at Daily Review.
Shappi Khorsandi: The daughter of an exiled writer, Shappi Khorsandi is a cultural commentator and self confessed news junkie. She is also the bestselling author of A Beginners Guide to Acting English by Bloomsbury.
Adrienne Truscott: Adrienne Truscott is one half of the Wau Wau sisters and recently won the Edinburgh Panel Prize for her show Asking for it: A one-lady rape about comedy, in which she does a stand-up take down of rape-jokes in comedy, all while performing naked from the waist down.
Anjelah Johnson: A former cheerleader, Anjelah Johnson is an online viral sensation, having released three full-length rap songs and two music videos in which she performs as the disgruntled fast food employee Bon Qui Qui. Her other stand-up routine Nail Salon has also become an online hit, raking over 30 million views on YouTube.
Sara Pascoe: A British writer, actress and stand- up comedian, Sara Pascoe makes her debut at MICF this year. She’s also accrued a number of on-screen credits, starring in the BBC UK’s Live at the Apollo, QI and Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
Mel Buttle: With comparisons to the likes of Australian comedians including Judith Lucy and Kitty Flanagan, Mel Buttle has already earned high praise. She’s the winner of the Directors Choice Award for her show How Embarrassment, is a regular on Triple J, Nova, and a regular contributor for The Courier Mail and ABC¹s The Drum.
Cal Wilson: Cal Wilson is a diverse comedian who has previously appeared as a regular on Network Ten¹s Good News Week, ABC-TV¹s Spicks and Specks, New Zealand¹s TV3 news comedy show 7 Days.
Fiona O¹Loughlin: A two-time Barry Nominee, Fiona O’Loughlin has taken her story-based stand-up all over the world, including a stint headlining at LA¹s world-renowned Improv Comedy Club, and repeat seasons at Edinburgh Fringe festival. She’s also raked up a number of appearances on Sunrise, Good News Week, Spicks and Specks, The Circle, Talkin’ Bout Your Generation, The World Stands Up, and Celebrity Apprentice.
Hannah Gadsby: Hannah Gadsby’s last show, Happiness is a Bedside Table, was nominated for a prestigious Barry Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and sold out in Melbourne and Edinburgh. Her next TV adventure, the visual art series Hannah Gadsby¹s OZ will go to air
on ABC1 in 2014.
Rebecca De Unamuno: Her career has covered television, stand-up, improvisation, radio and three tours with Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander and has performed at her fair share of comedy festivals around the world, and this year returns to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with her solo show Kiss My Date.
Our friends over at the Daily Review shared a Q&A with Rebecca De Unamuno about looking for love and laughs online, improvisation and her relationship with George Costanza.
Kiss My Date is about looking for love in the wrong places. Is online dating good fodder for comedy?
It’s a fabulous source for comedy! I had only been online dating for a couple of months when I realised I couldn’t make-up half of the messages I received. I also remember telling friends, “Well, if I don’t get a relationship out of this, at least I’ll get a show!”
What’s the most shocking thing you discovered when online dating?
Just how brazen some men can be. I mean, I certainly wasn’t naïve going into this but the things some men would say to me, a complete stranger, totally shocked me.
Is there a particular website or app you can recommend?
It all depends on what you’re looking for. There are plenty out there that are suited to casual hook-ups, but if it’s a relationship you’re after, you may need to search a little harder. No pun intended.
Do you think comedy is at its best when it comes from personal experience?
I do. A lot of comedy is born of truth. As I was writing the show I had to find a way to work through the various emotions and try to “find the funny” in each situation. Whilst that was a difficult process at times, it was ultimately rewarding and rather cathartic. If you can’t laugh at yourself…
You’re known for your improvisation skills. Is there much impro in this show?
There is one moment of improvisation in the show. It’s an opportunity to explore two audience members’ relationship, as Shakespeare may have written it.
How does performing your own work compare to improvising or performing other writers’ work?
I haven’t written much at all! According to Wikipedia I have, but this is actually the first show I’ve ever written which makes it a real challenge, especially for an improviser! I’m used to writing scenes on the spot.
Your career has been massively diverse with television, short films, voice work, radio, straight acting gigs, writing, theatresports. To build a career as a comedian in Australia, is it important to be diverse?
I think diversity is certainly an asset. It’s tough to make a living as a performer in this country so the more strings to your bow, the easier it is to find work. But I also believe you need to have a passion for all that you do. If your heart is in it and you truly love what you do, the work will ultimately follow.
You’ve worked with Jason Alexander who is a massive fan of yours. Was that a huge compliment? Is he anything like George Costanza?
It’s a huge compliment! I remember how nervous I was the first time we met and performed together but we just clicked and worked together incredibly well on stage. The fact that we have since become good friends is a total bonus. He is a generous, kind, intelligent and funny man, which some would say is the complete antithesis of George Costanza! Not to mention the fact he is supremely talented. I’m so lucky to know him. He calls me his “sister from another mister” whilst he is my “brother from another mother”. He is a total delight.
You’re doing 22 performances at the festival, so you’ll be pretty busy, but who else are you wanting to see?
Whilst the overseas comics are fantastic, I’m a big fan of supporting local comedians. I always enjoy watching Sam Simmons, Justin Hamilton, Fiona O’Loughlin, Cam Knight, Frank Woodley, to name but a few.
I’m also really excited to see shows that some of my improv tribe are performing, especially Rama Nicholas, Jason Geary & Jimmy James Eaton and Late Nite Impro.
I also try to attend several kids’ comedy shows (hearing kids laugh is good for the soul!) as well as the final of Class Clowns, the student stand-up competition in which the future of Australian comedy is on display.
You’ve done a few Melbourne Comedy Festivals by now – as a performer, how does it compare to other festivals around the world?
I’ve been lucky enough to perform at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival yet there is nothing quite like the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Whilst it is incredibly hard work, you are constantly surrounded by friends and colleagues who are all going through the same thing and who all share the same passion – making audiences laugh. It’s like having a built-in support network and, as they say, there’s no place like home.