This piece was published before the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Becky Lucas wrote most of her new jokes sitting at the pub, being lectured about data mining.
She's turned 30 and is already being looked down on by people in their 20s because of it.Here, she pens a letter about what she's been up to and why she loves comedy.
“Hi there,
I’m currently sitting in a hotel room in Adelaide every now and then saying ‘no thank you’ in a high, strangled voice that I don’t even recognise as my own. The reason being that the cleaners seem to keep wanting to come into my room and ‘clean’ it? Strange concept. I obviously can’t let them in or they’ll see my kebab wrapper on the floor, my hairball I haven’t thrown out yet and my clothes strewn about from yesterday when I couldn’t decide what to wear in a pre-show mania. I must keep them out at all costs. Besides that, I’m doing really well guys, don’t worry!
It’s been a big year since last festival season. I went to the United States and performed on the ‘Conan O’Brien’ show, performed at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal and I turned 30! Turning 30 obviously isn’t that big of a deal, although the other day I told a 23-year-old my age and she said ‘awwwww’ and looked at me like I had a terminal disease. I even got called ‘ma’am’ the other day! Did you know ma’am is short for madam, which is short for mademoiselle, which is French for ‘you look tired. Are you okay?’
Because of comedy I feel like I live in a state of arrested development, which is why I love it. I’m always travelling, most nights I’m surrounded by friends and I’m too busy trying to write jokes about life that I never get too bogged down in feeling like a responsible adult. There is something about placing an importance on a sense of humour, whether you’re a comedian or not, that keeps people young at heart. An ability to be playful and silly and cynical is to me, the most valuable anti-aging tool. At least that’s what I thought until I got called ‘ma’am’ – I’ve now invested in an expensive eye cream that comes in a little gold jar.
I’m not sure what’s ahead of me this year, (except that I will inevitably turn 31), but I hope there’s lots of writing, shows, fun and late night kebabs ahead.”
I’m currently sitting in a hotel room in Adelaide every now and then saying ‘no thank you’ in a high, strangled voice that I don’t even recognise as my own. The reason being that the cleaners seem to keep wanting to come into my room and ‘clean’ it? Strange concept. I obviously can’t let them in or they’ll see my kebab wrapper on the floor, my hairball I haven’t thrown out yet and my clothes strewn about from yesterday when I couldn’t decide what to wear in a pre-show mania. I must keep them out at all costs. Besides that, I’m doing really well guys, don’t worry!
It’s been a big year since last festival season. I went to the United States and performed on the ‘Conan O’Brien’ show, performed at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal and I turned 30! Turning 30 obviously isn’t that big of a deal, although the other day I told a 23-year-old my age and she said ‘awwwww’ and looked at me like I had a terminal disease. I even got called ‘ma’am’ the other day! Did you know ma’am is short for madam, which is short for mademoiselle, which is French for ‘you look tired. Are you okay?’
Because of comedy I feel like I live in a state of arrested development, which is why I love it. I’m always travelling, most nights I’m surrounded by friends and I’m too busy trying to write jokes about life that I never get too bogged down in feeling like a responsible adult. There is something about placing an importance on a sense of humour, whether you’re a comedian or not, that keeps people young at heart. An ability to be playful and silly and cynical is to me, the most valuable anti-aging tool. At least that’s what I thought until I got called ‘ma’am’ – I’ve now invested in an expensive eye cream that comes in a little gold jar.
I’m not sure what’s ahead of me this year, (except that I will inevitably turn 31), but I hope there’s lots of writing, shows, fun and late night kebabs ahead.”
