Felicity Ward was one of the first comedians to make a splash on The John Bishop Show. I tuned in expecting the usual Saturday night supermarket checkout/airport security blandness and instead got this fast-talking Australian on a roll with material about racism, religion and sexism. I think the audience was a little taken aback too, but thanks to Ward’s sheer force of personality they soon went with it. I don't know why I was surprised, this experienced comedian has been winning prizes and doing formidable candid, unrestrained shows for years, most notably The Hedgehog Dilemma, about relationship issues and much more. Her latest show, What If There Is No Toilet?, is about “mental illness, irritable bowel syndrome and her search for the nearest toilet.” Maybe next time she is on primetime she will do her IBS routine too.
Felicity Ward is at Soho Theatre from March 3 - 5, tickets here. Picture by Steve Ullathorne.
1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies, check for spinach between teeth and check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt)?
Always go to the toilet. Then figure out if I need to go again. Need is a strong word. Figure out if my anxiety needs to go to the toilet again.
2. What irritates you?
Grated carrot on salad. Gross.
3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
Last year I went in a stunt plane and got Benign Positional Vertigo. It’s a type of vertigo where you feel like you’re falling most of the time…even when you’re in the kitchen. Or watching Frasier. Not for the faint hearted.
4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
I was very nice to some people who were trying to rob me in South America. They had a scheme where they would squirt mustard onto unsuspecting tourist’s backpacks as they were walking through the market; then they would point it out and offer to clean up at their nearby house…down this conveniently located alley. Because I so often have food on my clothes (my family call me "spiller") I assumed I’d just rolled my bag in a hot dog that I’d eaten. I said they were very kind to offer, but I’d clean it upon returning home. They insisted. I couldn’t believe their generosity, but reassured them I should pay penance by cleaning it up myself.
5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
How I can still do the same show two nights in a row, to a similar amount of people, and the contrast in responses.
Interview continues here.
