An interview with Christina Adams
What was it like to win Best Newcomer Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival last year and how did it affect you?
It was an incredible honour to win such an award and be recognised amongst the many fantastic shows of the festival. Definitely a big surprise to have my name called out that night at the presentation. I think in some ways receiving the award has given me more confidence in my abilities as a performer. It’s always a long, hard slog working in comedy, so to receive recognition of any sort is always greatly appreciated.
Do you feel more confident in putting on your second Festival show?
Not really! I think I have “second show nerves”! I suppose at least now I know what to expect from the process, but preparing any show for such a huge festival is very nerve wracking.
Tell us a bit about this year’s show “Alive in Madagascar”
In 2001, I travelled to Madagascar to work with Earthwatch, a voluntary organisation that organises volunteers to assist in projects focusing on conservation around the world. I was involved with a team who were researching the fossa, an endangered carnivore that looks a bit like a small puma, but is related to mongooses. Basically, we trapped these animals and took their measurements and then fitted them with radio collars and tracked them. I was working with a large group of Americans, all of whom were taking the anti-malarial drug, Lariam, which is well known for inducing hallucinations and psychotic events.
Do you think that scary experience in the jungle saw you in good stead for dealing with comedy audiences?
I think it gave me confidence that I hadn’t previously had and that enabled me to pursue things, like comedy, that I might not otherwise have done.
The main difference I see between your two shows is that though they are both about your own experiences, the first is fairly universally understood, everyone has been to school, even if they haven’t taught, and I reckon that you would have a ready made audience of teachers (I went along with a 1st year teacher!) Whereas this new show is about something that hardly anyone in your audience would have experience in. Did this affect your writing of the show?
Yes, I have found myself having to stop and think how best to explain certain things in order to ensure my audience understands where I’m coming from. Also, I have included quite a few visual elements in my show in order to automatically give the audience a picture of the sort of conditions I was living in and the kinds of animals I was working with. Because Madagascar is such a beautiful and remote country, it’s easy to get enthused and I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with people during the festival. Even if I inspire one person to head over, the whole process will have been worth while.
What has it been like to have Gerard McCulloch direct?
I’ve been very lucky to have Gerard directing my show this year. His experience as both a writer and a performer has been invaluable and I think it’s always helpful to have someone to whom you must be accountable during the writing experience. I wish I had the self discipline just to answer to myself, but, alas, I do not!
For booking details go to Christina Adams: Alive in Madagascar