Each year the Melbourne Comedy Festival selects some of the best local, national and international comedians to travel around Australia as part of the Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow. This year the talent will include Brian Nankervis, Greg Behrendt, Elbowskin, Amos Gill and Hannah Gadsby.
“The Roadshow is great fun because it's quite rare in comedy to be able to hang out with other comics, so I really enjoy it,” says Hannah Gadsby, one of the comedians on tour. “It reminds me of when I first started comedy, I got the chance to do Roadshow and meet some older comics. And now I get to meet the comics who are only new to the game. Because our paths don't cross that much, it's a great opportunity to meet new talent.”
Although Hannah is the only female on the tour she doesn't feel out of place. “I don't feel anything like that. If there's more than one asshole on the tour, then it becomes difficult. Comedy isn't gender-based, it's personality-based.”
However, stand-up comedy and the Roadshow aren't the only things that Hannah has on her mind. Since graduating with a degree in art history, she has been trying to find a way to put the degree to some use. She eventually found a way through the ABC's 'Artscape' where she has written and presented three special segments. “I have a degree in art history and I love talking about art, so it made sense to merge the two worlds and have fun with art. [The specials] are great because the first stop isn't the laughs. You just try and get out all the information, the laughs are just a bonus. It's a lot easier to get people to laugh when they aren't expecting it. Because when you stand up as a comedian they just go 'well come on! Make me laugh!'” says Hannah.
Hannah is also attempting to finish her first book. “This is the thing — I've been writing this first book for years, but I haven't actually found much time to write it. I'm going to give it a solid go in winter this year. So we'll see how that goes. I'm chipping away at it, but it is taking a lot more time than expected.”
Although Hannah is doing so much, she doesn’t favour any of her creative outlets. “I have a preference for doing as much and as many different things as possible. I like having my personality come through with things like that. I couldn't pick one over the other.”
Hannah is not only a veteran of both The Melbourne Comedy Festival and the Roadshow but her latest solo show 'Happiness Is A Bedside Table' was nominated for Best Show at last year's Melbourne Comedy Festival. “It's always nice to get external validation. It's the second time I was nominated. I get nominated for quite a few things — I never seem to win anything though. The nominations are good enough, at least that's what I tell myself anyway.”
Hannah Gadsby is part of the Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow team alongside Brian Nankervis, Greg Behrendt, Elbowskin and Amos Gill for the Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow playing all around the country throughout May, June and July.
Melbourne Comedy Festival Tour Dates
14-17 May - Brisbane Powerhouse20 May - Ipswich Civic Centre
22 May - The Arts Centre Gold Coast
23-24 May - Canberra Theatre Centre
30-31 - Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre
31 May - Ballina RSL Club
5-6 June - Goldfields Arts Centre (Kalgoorlie)
6-8 June - Civic Theatre Newscastle
7 June - Swan Hill Town Hall
11 June - The Capital Bendigo
12-15 June - Her Majesty's Theatre (Perth)
17-18 June - Jetty Memorial Theatre (Coffs Harbour)
21 June - Glasshouse Arts, Conference and Entertainment Centre
For the remainder of the dates (and there are lots more), head to Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
