Rising star Steph Tisdell gets comfy at Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Sleeping on the job is definitely out of the question for up-and-coming comedy star Steph Tisdell - who performed her first comedy festival shows in her PJs.
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Sleeping on the job is definitely out of the question for up-and-coming comedy star Steph Tisdell.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival director Susan Proven was full of praise for her at the Gala, which was Tisdell’s first Gala performance.
“Tom Gleeson gave me a special mention, which was amazing and Susan (Proven) has been so supportive of me and Aboriginal comedy in general,” Tisdell said.
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“It’s great to have our voices heard and my style is to deliver the truth in the least combative or confrontational way possible.”
Tisdell, 26, left her law studies five years ago when she discovered her gift by being dared by friends to perform in Dublin.
She quickly developed a taste for laughter and won the Deadly Funny National Grand Final in 2014, along with many other awards including Best Newcomer award at last year’s Melbourne comedy festival.
Performing at the Gala last week was a career highlight because she had made it a goal to achieve in 15 years but made it in five years.
Her decision to pursue her craft in Scotland before returning to Australia was crucial to her success because she could find her own voice without being too influenced by friends and family at home.
“I focus a lot on the humour in white guilt and ignorance that we have in Australia about our first nations people and make it funny,” she said.
“It’s not about being ashamed. If we can laugh at it, we can learn.”
Critics have praised the intelligent quips in her political satire while audiences are just as enthusiastic.
For her first performance in this year’s Comedy Festival she performed in her pyjamas and invited her audience to also dress in their sleepwear.
Steph Tisdell, The Pyramid, until April 21, Victoria Hotel — Vic’s Bar.