US comedy legend Maria Bamford is hitting Aussie shores for the first time in five years, this July.
Maria is the first female comic to have two half-hour specials on Comedy Central – she's starred in a semi-biographical Netflix series, and enjoyed supporting roles on the likes of 'Arrested Development' and 'Kroll Show', plus voiceover work for everything from 'SpongeBob SquarePants' to 'Bigmouth'.
Maria's recently released memoir 'Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir Of Mental Illness And The Quest To Belong Anywhere!' details the comedian's struggle with mental health over the years – she's an advocate who has been transparent about this throughout her career.
Judd Apatow described her as 'the funniest woman in the world', and now she's about to hit our shores and show off exactly why she's been given this title.
Before she takes her set to Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. . . Maria has been kind enough to sit down with us and chat about comedy, mental health, and what Aussie audiences can expect this July.
This is your first Australian stand-up tour in more than five years. What are you most looking to about returning?
HEDGEHOGS! VANILLA SLICE! TIM TAM!
Where did your passion for comedy come from, and what keeps it burning?
It felt good and it still feels good (I avoid places where it feels bad for me: casinos, etc. – any place I’m not needed).
Judd Apatow has called you ‘the funniest woman in the world’! How does it feel to get praise like this from people in the industry?
It is bananas and a pair of pants. Bananapants.
Tell us a bit about your work as an advocate for mental health. Why is this important to you?
It is my only experience and so, it’s hard not to talk about it. I feel ashamed and so I like talking about it because I feel less alone.
You incorporate elements of your own journey with mental health into your comedy. How do you find the line regarding how to present this in a comedic light?
Comedy is very subjective – what is funny to you might not be funny to me, but I always respect the craft and work that goes into people’s act even if it’s not 'for' me. There is no line. As long as someone isn’t using hate speech and emboldening a crowd to action against all the single ladies in the house.
You’ve had a busy year – releasing a special as well as a memoir. Your memoir is a New York Times bestseller – congratulations! What inspired you to write this, and what are your hopes for those who read it?
They offered me $150K US! I hope you can enjoy it, or know that you too can write a book!
Now, tell us a little bit about the show you’ll be bringing to our shores. What can audiences expect from it?
Mental health
Money
Relationships
Deterioration
There’ll be plenty of long-time fans attending, of course. . . But for those new to your work: If you love ________, you’ll love Maria Bamford.
Dugongs, Eeyore, clown open-mics.
Maria Bamford 2024 Australia Tour Dates
5 July – Odeon Theatre (Hobart)9 July – Hindley Street Music Hall (Adelaide)
10 July – The Tivoli (Brisbane)
12 July – Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
13 July – Palais Theatre (Melbourne)
16 July – Astor Theatre (Perth)
