Comedian Q&A: The Comedy Zone with Bec Melrose, Ben Kochan, Charity Werk, David Woodhead, Emma Holland
When five rising stars of comedy unleash on the one stage at Comedy Zone, you’re guaranteed a good laugh — and bragging rights for seeing them first.
Comedian Q&A
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WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT FROM YOUR SHOW AT THIS YEAR’S MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL?
Ben: Laughs! All sorts of laughs.
Big ones, little ones, gut busters, guffaws, chuckles, giggles, snickers and of course, hee haws.
Rebecca: We’ve got a beaut line up of excellently funny people at Comedy Zone this year. It’s like a cute little pick ‘n’ mix of talent.
Charity: Audiences can expect to be floored by my natural beauty.
I’m often compared to a young Nicole Kidman by strangers, which I object to, of course.
I’m much funnier than Nicole.
David: Comedy Zone is always a great show, because out of the five hand-picked comics performing, you’re bound to like a least one of them.
People should expect to see a variety of different styles from five comedians, and to see a glimpse of the future of Australian comedy.
Emma: Finely crafted jokes and the energy of someone who did rowing in high school.
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MEET THE COMEDIANS WHO ANSWERED OUR Q&AS
IF YOU’RE NEW TO MICF, TELL US ABOUT YOU. IF NOT, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE?
Ben: I did the Melbourne comedy festival last year and since then I’ve gotten a full body massage.
Rebecca: This will be my first year performing at MICF after RAW Comedy last year.
I’ve had a whirlwind year throwing myself into all things comedy.
I’ve been to Edinburgh to compete in So You Think You’re Funny? I joined the writing team for Tonightly and I also won Family Feud. I’ve been busy.
Charity: This is my first time performing at the MICF.
Last year I was picking up tips at gay clubs.
I wasn’t performing or anything I just took the money I found by the bar.
Now I’m here, at MICF, dressed for success and ready to make millions of dollars.
What do you mean it’s unpaid?!
David: I haven’t been back to the MICF since representing Northern Territory in the RAW comedy competition in 2016. Since then, I’ve moved to Brisbane, started writing and performing in ABC’s Black Comedy, and travelling around the country doing stand-up.
Emma: Hello, I’m Emma.
Last year I was in the line-up show The 5.30 Show and this year I’ve made the move to 8.30pm for the Comedy Zone.
My hobbies include researching Koko the gorilla and my karaoke song is the Australian national anthem.
WHO SHOULD SEE YOUR SHOW, AND WHY?
Ben: Celebrities should see this show!
Firstly, I think they would enjoy it and secondly I would love to meet a celebrity after the show.
Rebecca: Comedy Zone showcases five of Australia’s raddest up and coming comics, I love their work.
You’re going to have a good time.
Plus, it’s like five mini-shows in one, you can’t beat it for value.
Charity:: I encourage all wayward homosexuals to do their part for charity and catch me at the Comedy Zone.
Straight girls dying to say “yas kween” also welcome.
Though please don’t touch the wig, Stacy.
David: The Comedy Zone is like the LEGO of MICF 2019, we’re fun for ages 8 to 80.
Even though I wouldn’t recommend eight year olds coming.
Or 80 year olds for that matter.
Nothing against 80 year olds, I just think there’s a lot of stairs at our venue, and the elevators are unreliable.
So really maybe anyone from 18 to let’s say 60.
Emma: Everyone and anyone who isn’t related to me by blood because I’m very good but I’d still like to be able to make eye contact with you afterwards.
WHAT’S YOUR NO.1 TIP FOR PEOPLE COMING TO SEE A SHOW AT THE COMEDY FESTIVAL?
Ben: Don’t fold your arms or put your hands in your lap, give off great body language by throwing your hands in the air and waving them around throughout the show to let the comedian know you’re having a good time.
Rebecca: Go see something you would never ordinarily see.
There’s usually a buzz in the air around festival time about shows that seem to tap into something funky in the Zeitgeist.
Ask around and go and see as many shows as you can.
Charity: I highly recommend Aunties Dumplings in Carnegie. Great food at a fraction of the price.
Get the Shanghai beef noodles. Tell them I sent you.
David: If you enjoyed the show you saw, tell people to go see it.
Tell your workmates, friends, family, anyone.
Even just post a photo on Instagram.
Don’t make good comics have to take out a Nimble loan just to pay rent because they only got four people into their 50-seat venue.
Emma: Take a punt on a lesser known name and go to a show of someone flyering outside town hall. There are some true hidden gems.
WHICH OTHER COMEDIANS/SHOWS ARE YOU KEEN TO SEE AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL, AND WHY?
Ben: I’d like to see a few of the American comedians shows — Maria Bamford, Ron Funches etc.
I’ve heard they’ve got a good scene over there so I’m excited to see what kind of comedians they produce.
Rebecca: I have an outrageous list of “must-see” shows.
Charity: I am positively restless to see Judith Lucy Vs. Men. I mean, talk about an Aussie icon. I also can’t wait to see all my friends slaying.
Especially Alice Tovey, Double Denim, Rhys Nicholson, Danielle Walker, Dazza & Keif and the kick-a-- gals of The Breast of the Fest.
David: I am very keen to see Comedy Zone alumni and great friend Jack Gramenz’s show Jack Gramenz Is Trying To Win Best Newcomer — he’s one of the best working right now. Also, keen to see Dan Dennis and Friends, Steph Tisdell, Aaron Chen, Amy Hetherington and Blake Freeman.
Emma: I’m a sucker for comedians from my hometown, Canberra.
The Canberra scene is flourishing at the moment and the talent is extraordinary.
I’ll be seeing Chris Ryan and Tom Gibson’s Unqualified, Frankie McNair and Maddy Week’s Constantly Screaming and Anthony Tomic’s Please Pray for Me.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MELBOURNE?
Ben: I like Melbourne. I don’t understand why we’re supposed to hate the states we don’t live in.
I like Adelaide, I like Perth, I like Tasmania, they all have some nice things.
Last time I was in Melbourne I had Guzman Y Gomez for nearly every meal, so I’m excited to do that again.
Rebecca: I love Melbourne. Lots of my dearest friends have left Sydney for Melbourne so it’s always lovely to spend time with them and see their little pockets of the city.
Charity: My favourite part of Melbourne is the brimming theatre scene.
I was one of those obsessive drama kids who put on plays for family, so I felt right at home growing up here.
Though I could never tell whether I was gay or just a hipster.
Turns out you can be both.
David: I like Melbourne, I’ve been there a couple of times.
I always have a lot of fun, the night-life of Melbourne is always great.
As for the people in Melbourne, you guys are cool … Some of you are weird as hell, like is it a law that all white baristas need to have dreadlocks?
Emma: I’ve been living in Melbourne for a year now and it still blows my mind that you can get a handmade gnocchi at 1am.
WHO OR WHAT IS YOUR COMEDIC INSPIRATION, AND WHY?
Ben: Tony Shaloub has always been an inspiration.
I haven’t seen much of his work but I love his name.
I usually work Tony Shaloub into any joke I’ve come up with and then slowly work him out of the joke because no one has ever found it as funny as I do.
Rebecca: My family. I’m not even the funniest person at my dinner table and I have the audacity to do this for a living!
I come from a long line of legends whose approach to ripping into life and laughing all the way through is as about as much inspiration as you’d ever need.
Charity:: Musical theatre is my one true love, so I draw a lot of comedy inspiration from cabaret comics like Tim Minchin, Dolly Diamond and Jude Perl.
I’m also inspired by the physicality and campiness of comedians like John Mulaney, Michael McIntyre and Kristen Wiig. Especially Kristen. Any sketch she touches is gold.
David: Richard Pryor is in my eyes the GOAT.
I’ve always been drawn to storyteller comics, I think there’s something real special in being able to hold the audience’s attention for 15 minutes with one single story.
Emma: Anyone who is a bit left of centre.
I didn’t realise how all-encompassing stand-up comedy could be, it’s not all just ‘so I’m single’.
Also that rabbit scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
THE COMEDY ZONE
Rating: ★★★
Reviewer: Michael Ward
All comics start somewhere and the Comedy Zone showcase provides invaluable exposure for five handpicked up-and-comers.
Ben Kochan fulfils the MC brief with charm and self-deprecating gags.
Bec Melrose is a measured performer with a clever bit about office politics wrapped up in the old- hat trope of racing commentary.
Drag queen Charity Werk brings glamour to the show but her personal material needs more jokes.
With a Luke McGregor-ish cadence to her delivery, Emma Holland amusingly melds art with comedy.
Pick of the bunch is young NT comedian David Woodhead, who has real stage presence and a nice line in stoner comedy.
The Comedy Zone, until April 21, Trades Hall.
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