Award-winning stand-up star and viral sensation Laura Lexx has touched down on Australian shores for the first time ever.
With her, she brings a solo show, 'Slinky', as well as an appearance in the ever-popular 'Best Of The Edinburgh Fest' line-up show as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival, alongside Jimmy McGhie and William Wang.
She's already done some research on us (helped a little bit by lockdown-era downtime and Australia-based family) and is more than prepared to handle the Aussie crowds – whether joined by some other comedy stars, or presenting the LOLs solo.
We speak to Laura ahead of her Melbourne gigs.
This is your first time in Australia. Welcome! What would you say has surprised you the most about it since being here?
So far. . . I would say the SUPREME friendliness of people! As they’re leaving the show they’re all like “thanks Laura” – using my first name more than I think my husband does? And like, if someone walks past you and has seen the show you’d better believe you’re stopping for a ten-minute chat. People are so ready for a nice chat.
You’re part of the ‘Best Of The Edinburgh Fest’. How does it feel to be considered as part of ‘the best’ of something!?
I’d love to have some cute self-deprecating stuff to say but, honestly? It feels like about time. HA! No, but seriously. . . 'Slinky', the show I’m bringing to Melbourne, is my fifth Edinburgh show. . . I have so many awards and nominations under my belt and it’s actually really nice to turn up confident in myself and ready to show it off instead of nervously feeling riddled with imposter syndrome.
Without spoiling too much, for those unfamiliar, how would you describe your style of comedy and what you’ll be bringing to that ‘Best Of’ show?
I’m extremely open and honest. Whatever has happened on that day will tumble out of my mouth while I try to befriend you and make you my new best friend. I like chatty, casual, joke-filled observations and gags on the chaos of life.
You’ll be joined by Jimmy McGhie and William Wang. What are you most looking forward to about sharing a stage with these comics?
I’m looking forward to getting to know William – he’s not someone I’ve worked with before and I love meeting a new comic and getting familiar with their style and finding out who they are. It’s exciting and eye-opening. Any new comic you meet influences you in some way I think. As for Jimmy. . . He’s almost the opposite. I’ve known him since I started doing comedy and we’ve fallen into a great rhythm of working on writing and developing together that has been such a great use of time while I’ve been in Adelaide warming up for Melbourne.
You’re also performing your own solo show at the festival. How does the material for a new show manifest itself for you?
It tends to be me hiding from whatever I last did because I’m so over it! I get bored of a theme I think I’ve finished and I want to talk about the complete opposites. Whatever has floated to the surface of my mind and feels like the thing I most need to work out, out loud.
You’re a big fan of ‘The Block’. What do you love so much about it?!
Ugh, where do I start? I suppose I start with Keith. I basically only accepted this tour on the off chance there might be a way to meet Keith. We started watching 'The Block' during lockdown and we just couldn’t get over how many episodes there are. It’s incredible. You basically NEVER have to decide what you’re watching ever again because there is always more 'Block'. It has reduced domestic arguments in my household by about 75 per cent.
You’re also keen on visiting Bunnings while you’re on our shores. What got you interested in doing that, and have you made it happen yet?!
I have some extended family who have lived out here for a few years and the tales they tell of Bunnings. . . It just made it somewhere I had to visit. Everything in Australia is bigger and more extreme than the UK and who doesn’t love a hardware store? Embarrassingly I haven’t got there yet but my apartment in Adelaide overlooks one, so I sort of know I can do it whenever I want to. . . I just have to head downstairs!
Surely you’re familiar with our famous Bunnings snags in bread. What, in your opinion, is the best combination of toppings for a sausage in bread?
Well fried onions – not burned but properly, properly fried up. Then you need mustard and a bit of cheese with possibly a bit of kewpie mayo depending on the day. Controversially though. . . I do believe these items should not be toppings, they should be bottoms. They need to go UNDER the sausage to improve eatability of the hot dog.
When audiences walk away from a Laura Lexx show, they should feel. . .
Relaxed, seen, relieved, uplifted and joyous. I want people to leave thinking we know each other a little bit and that they’re not on their own with whatever they’re going through.
'Best Of The Edinburgh Fest' plays The Capitol (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) 26 March-19 April. 'Slinky' plays QT Melbourne – Barclay Room 18-19 April.
