Australian comedy royalty Fiona O'Loughlin is bringing not one but two shows to this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF).
With a career spanning more than 20 years, Fiona has had her fair share of on (and off) stage experiences, including taking her comedy all the way to Los Angeles, and being crowned Queen Of The Jungle in 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here'. She was the winner of MICF's Best Newcomer Award in 2001 and a mere five years later took home the coveted MICF Piece Of Wood – an award for Funniest Show, as voted by other comedians.
Over in LA, Fiona headlined the world-renowned Improv Comedy Club and even went on to do shows in Hong Kong, Edinburgh Fringe, and Montreal's Just For Laughs Comedy Festival (by invite only).
On top of being a renowned stand-up comedian, Fiona is also an author. Her searingly honest book 'Truths From An Unreliable Witness' has now been turned into a stage show – which is the first of two shows she's presenting this year.
'The Unreliable Witness' sees Fiona detailing the ugly realities of living with addiction, and the harsh truth that recovery isn't as simple as it might seem for some – but, there is promise of better days to come.
In February, Fiona cancelled some shows in Queensland due to an unexpected diagnosis of Adult ADHD.
“I have recently had a diagnosis of Adult ADHD which has gone undetected, all of my life. It has been daunting to discover so late in my life that nearly everything I perceived about myself to be true must now be overhauled,” Fiona wrote at the time.
“I began treatment at a clinic in Adelaide, in mid January. The medication is a trial and error situation. I made the mistake of not giving myself enough time to be monitored correctly.”
Fiona finished her statement by assuring fans that she's feeling better than ever, and recently completed a successful season of 'The Unreliable Witness' at Adelaide Fringe.
Fiona's other MICF show, 'No Lies', is proof that after so much experience in the entertainment industry, Fiona sure has got plenty of stories to tell. And not just your run-of-the-mill stories, oh no. These are juicy, 'OMG', naming names stories you'd only ever tell your best friend, a tabloid journalist or a priest.
Fiona O'Loughlin plays Imperial Hotel ('No Lies') 6-18 April and Melbourne Town Hall ('The Unreliable Witness') 6-18 April. Fiona also plays Sydney Comedy Festival (1,2 May) and Perth Comedy Festival (7 May).
