Hannah Gadsby
Every year the Melbourne International Comedy Festival brings us the biggest comedy competition in Australia, RAW Comedy, uncovering the rich wealth of comedic talent bubbling away in some of our newest comedians. Every year RAW Comedy sees the ultimate winner of the competition sent to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the chance of a lifetime. In 2006 Hannah Gadsby added her name to the prestigious list of winners.
Hannah made her comedy debut at the RAW Comedy competition in 2005, one year before her triumph. A film projectionist by day, Hannah says she gave into her friend’s urging to give comedy a go. “A friend pleaded with me to share my jokes and stories with a wider range of people so as to give him a rest.” Hannah has taken to the task and has found that there are some aspects to being a comedian that she really enjoys. “It’s a chance to legitimately avoid taking anything seriously”, she says, “so it is really playing on my strengths.” However there is a downside, which Hannah says is that _“nobody takes me seriously.”
The transition process for young comedians who make it to the final of Raw is pretty dramatic, going from small local rooms to appearing in front of 1500 people at the Town Hall in the space of just a few gigs. It can undoubtedly affect their nerves. “I found it completely nauseating”, says Hannah. “Although I seemed to handle it pretty well I am happy to go back to small rooms for the time being.” Hannah points out that the support from her fellow competitors was important. “I certainly got a sense of camaraderie between us all”, she says. “It was a nerve-wracking day and I think we were all feeling a tad overwhelmed. I think this shared experience will be a link between us.” Nerve wracking though it was, Hannah is emphatic that she enjoyed the outcome. “I think I can safely say that it felt nice,” she says. “I was genuinely chuffed because I thought the competition was tough…Not just in the national finals but I know some very talented comics who didn’t even make it that far.”
Hannah has an amazing opportunity now, getting a free ticket to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a chance to perform in the “So You Think You’re Funny” competition, a competition which has launched the likes of David O’Doherty, Dylan Moran and Phil Kay. “I am very excited about Edinburgh”, says Hannah, “it’s going to be a steep, but I believe fun, learning curve.” Hannah recognises the importance of the opportunity in terms of her career, but is cautious about getting too far ahead of herself. “It means a real leg up,” she says, “I now have something impressive for my C.V. But I am all too aware that I have a long way to go.”