Judith Lucy is probably one of the most recognisable figures in Australian comedy today.
With over a quarter of a century of experience doing stand-up, Judith Lucy is still going strong. Since coming to national attention on the 'Late Show' in 1993, Lucy has since released two best-selling books, headlined two documentary series for ABC, appears regularly on 'At The Movies' as a guest reviewer, and on top of that performs to audiences nationally.
Never one to beat about the bush, Judith approached this interview much the same way she approaches her comedy – with unflinching honesty. When asking how she's feeling in the lead up to her new tour, Judith responds, “I've done a weekend in Canberra and I did the season in Melbourne and people didn't hate it. People actually wrote nice things and came and saw it. So I guess I'm feeling like it's not a turkey and that's always good news.”
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Judith's new tour 'Ask No Questions Of The Moth' will soon be making it's way to Brisbane. When explaining the origins of the name of this tour, she explains, “I wanted a show that sounded deep and ridiculous at the same time and I think I've achieved that. It's actually a quote from a 12th Century Suffi Mystic Poem called 'Conference Of The Birds'. The whole quote is, 'I have no questions of my coming or passing away, the whole thing happened quicker than a breath, ask no questions of the moth'. Basically it was an excuse for me to dress up in a moth costume for the poster and the consensus does seem to be that I make a very good sad moth.”
While laughs and gags are the primary focus of any stand-up show, this doesn't stop Judith from tackling some bigger and more personal subjects. “If there is a little bit of a theme holding it all together I guess it is about change and impermanence. I had a little bit of a shocking year last year. There was death and change, so I talk a bit about that... Anyone who's seen me before will know that I really just bang on about what's happened to me since the last stand-up show.” Judith enjoys the personal connection she has with her fans, seeing each show as an opportunity to let her fan-base know what's been happening in her life lately. “I can't write to them all personally, so I've got to do something.”
Judith recently finished a documentary series entitled 'Judith Lucy Is All Woman', a show that examined what's changed for women in Australia in recent years, for better or for worse. One of the most striking parts of the series was the use of archival footage that shows some incredibly pervasive and sexist attitudes that were prevalent not that long ago. “I wanted the show to be a combination of celebrating how far we've come but also looking at clearly where we still need to do a little bit of work. I think a lot of that archive footage while also being funny does make you sort of go, 'oh my god, it wasn't that long ago that women were having to chain themselves to the front bar to be able to drink in thereo. It should be a bit confronting, I think.”
Part of the show involved Judith examining cosmetic surgery and opted to have a 'g-spot enhancement' procedure to be done on camera. “I do have a tendency to come up with ideas that seem really good at the time and then when I'm actually in the process of making them a reality, I am often struck by the fact that I haven't really thought them through. That was certainly one of those moments,” explains Lucy. “Strangely, the one that involved an injection into my vagina actually seemed the least terrifying which is kind of weird, with the wisdom of hindsight.
“I think in many respects that morning was much more confronting for the crew than for me,” she laughs. “I had two lovely gentlemen, Ben and Barry, and I don't think they personally wanted to see anything that I would feel or they would feel uncomfortable with and they didn't want the nation to see anything untoward either. That's the only time during the whole shoot where after we'd finished something Barry actually came up and hugged me. It was a confronting morning all round for everyone.”
When asked what her favourite part of filming the series was, Judith jokingly answers, “finishing it! I'm trying to remember what the last thing we did was, I think it was tap-dancing with the elderly ladies. Because that was the last scene, that was the best thing!” she says with a laugh. Answering more seriously, she says, “despite the fact that I make my living banging on about myself, I actually love talking to other people and I love interviewing them.
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“We got to talk to everyone from Annabel Crabb, it was great talking to people with profiles like Anna Bligh and – although I might not go along with her politically – Julie Bishop was great to talk to. Jez Pez and Buck Angel [two transgender men] were great to talk to but it was also fantastic talking to Corrie who was the stay-at-home mother of five, it was great talking to stay-at-home dads too. We were really lucky to get all the people we got signing up to do the show. I guess I'm always fascinated by hearing other people's stories, so that was always the best stuff for me.”
'Judith Lucy Is All Woman' is out now.
Judith Lucy Tour Dates
Tues 26 May - Sun June 7 – Brisbane PowerhouseSat 20 June – Mackay Entertainment Centre
Thurs 2 July – Manning Entertainment Centre (Taree)
Sat 4 July – Glasshouse (Port Macquarie)
Thurs 9 - Fri 10 July – Perth Concert Hall
Sun 12 July – Darwin Entertainment Centre
Sat 18 July – Civic Theatre (Newcastle)
Fri 31 July - Sat 1 Aug – Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Sun 2 Aug – Concourse Theatre (Sydney)
