Judith Lucy Claire Hooper Chris Ryan Rebecca de Unamuno Floyd Alexander-Hunt Bec Charlwood Bev Killick Cassie Workman Demi Lardner Nina Oyama Danielle Walker
Frocking Hilarious Sydney 2021 ENMORE THEATRE, 7.30PM SUNDAY 9 MAY
Welcome to Frocking Hilarious
I’m excited to welcome you to the 8th Frocking Hilarious in Sydney. From its first show in 2012, Frocking Hilarious has grown to become a treasured annual event which brings together brilliant women comedians to celebrate and raise money for global women’s rights.
ActionAid Australia supports women around the world facing poverty and injustice to claim their rights and transform their communities. Frocking Hilarious is about celebrating these inspirational women and raising vital funds to support their efforts to lead on the frontlines of crises.
There’s nothing like a good laugh to inspire solidarity! Let’s celebrate the brave and resilient women we work with and draw strength from the power of laughter.
Michelle Higelin Executive Director, ActionAid Australia COMEDIANS CLICK A NAME
CLAIRE HOOPER JUDITH LUCY CHRIS RYAN
REBECCA de FLOYD UNAMUNO ALEXANDER- HUNT BEC CHARLWOOD
BEV CASSIE DEMI KILLICK WORKMAN LARDNER
NINA DANIELLE OYAMA WALKER JUDITH LUCY
ActionAid Ambassador Judith Rivetingly honest, with a Gatling Lucy started performing stand-up gun gag rate, no one sees just one comedy 30 years ago, and since Judith Lucy show. Basically, Judith is then all her shows have been really funny, super busy and anyone utterly, achingly, ‘provide warnings who sees her agrees and they keep to asthmatics’ funny. She is a best- coming back. A simple but effective selling, award winning stand-up formula. comedian, selling out huge venues across the country, playing theatres in big cities and across the regions.
ActionAid Australia Ambassador Channel Ten’s The Project as well Claire Hooper started her career as her involvement with the 2021 on the stage – crafting engaging, Melbourne International Comedy innovative live shows that blended Festival. Claire also returns as stand-up, theatre and some moderator for fan-favourite event hammer dancing. Over the last “The Great Debate”. decade, Claire has been captivating audiences and touring brilliant solo shows across the country to critical acclaim. Claire has hit 2021 running with a regular co-hosting role on Chris Ryan’s laconic take on on the Australian comedy scene, everything from romance to passive winning Best Newcomer at the aggressive co-workers has made Sydney Comedy Festival in 2019 and her a sought-after performer in was nominated for Best Newcomer comedy festivals, galas and live Melbourne International Comedy shows around Australia. Chris is Festival 2021. one of the most exciting new voices Rebecca has been an improviser Player of the Tournament. In 2003 for over 15 years and has performed Rebecca was nominated for Most regularly at Belvoir St Theatre and Outstanding Newcomer to Television Enmore Theatre. Rebecca is a two- at the inaugural Australian time Cranston Cup champion and Comedy Awards and in 2005 was was a member of the Australian a Moosehead Award recipient for team which won the Improv World her solo improvisation show Open Cup at the 2001 Just for Laughs to Suggestion at the Melbourne Festival in Montreal. Rebecca International Comedy Festival. was the first woman in history of the competition to be named Demi Lardner started out at just surreal comedy. Demi was awarded 15 and has been an unstoppable Best International Show at the New force on the live comedy scene ever Zealand International Comedy since. Her unpredictable and high- Festival and Directors Choice award energy live performances along with at Sydney Comedy Festival and numerous podcast collaborations nominated for Best Show at the has seen her spend the past few Edinburgh Fringe for her show Ditch years blazing around Australia and Witch 800 in 2019. beyond sharing her unique style of Bec Charlwood went to an open mic become one of the most exciting night in 2014 and decided to give rising stars in Australian comedy. it a go. It didn’t go great, but as a In January 2020, Bec performed her woman it was nice to talk for a few hotly anticipated debut stand-up minutes without being interrupted. show Dirty Girl at Perth’s Fringe World Six years later, she’s heaps better. festival. With effortless ability and hilarious honesty, Bec delights audiences with anecdotes about her life, observations on society and stories about her family. It has seen her Nina Oyama is a half Japanese, the Best Newcomer Award at the writer, director and comedian from Melbourne International Comedy Sydney, Australia. At age 19, Nina Festival and has performed on Stand scored her first television writing job Up at Bella Union, and more recently on You’re Skitting Me Season 2 after Just for Laughs at the Sydney Opera a producer saw her performing House. Her dream is to be the stand-up comedy in a dingy room Australian/Japanese version of in Kings Cross. As a stand-up Ali Wong. comedian, Nina was nominated for Floyd Alexander-Hunt is an Wales finalist for RAW Comedy in Australian based comedian 2019. She has performed to sold- combining quirky charm with out crowds at some of Australia’s virtuoso violin. In 2021, Floyd biggest rooms including the Sydney performed in Melbourne Comedy Store, Enmore Theatre and International Comedy Festival’s Melbourne’s Hamer Hall. prestigious Comedy Zone and debuted at the Sydney Comedy Festival Gala. She was a New South Bev Killick is from the bold and written many solo shows for festivals brassy school of stand up, delivering and continues to come up with the a non-stop energetic set every time. good stuff year in and year out. Bev As soon as she blasts her way on travels far and wide and has added stage, you know you’re in for a treat. working on cruise ships to her swag. Bev is likeable, bawdy and real. She’s an all-rounder and with her range of talents is a sure-fire hit at corporate and private functions. She has Cassie Workman is known for her performed Giantess at Melbourne heartfelt and emotive storytelling, International Comedy Festival her incisive wit and brutal where the show quickly gained deconstructions of the status quo. recognition and was nominated for There is no other voice like hers in the Melbourne International Comedy comedy today. Cassie entered the Festival Award for most outstanding public eye after winning Triple J’s show, the festivals’ highest accolade. Raw Comedy national open mic competition in 2009. In 2019 Cassie Danielle Walker is a strange, if not stand-up show Bush Rat won her perhaps slightly deranged girl known the Best Newcomer Award at the for her dark and twisted everyday Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2018. observations and stories. Moving Winning this prestigious award saw from Townsville to Melbourne in 2015, Danielle take her show to the Soho Danielle started gigging and honing Theatre in London’s West End in early her craft and it was in early 2016 that 2019. she took out the prize in Australia’s biggest open mic competition and was named RAW Comedy National Champion. Danielle’s first hour-long TO OUR PARTNERS ActionAid Australia would like to thank everyone who contributed to bringing Frocking Hilarious to life: all the wonderful women on stage tonight; Sydney Comedy Festival and Century Events; the stage crew and the Enmore Theatre for graciously hosting us; and, of course, the women we work with around the world who continue to inspire us with their strength and resilience. We’re building a movement of people across Australia to stand in solidarity with women around the world who are fighting for justice and equality. With enough people power, we can ensure that our governments and companies are held accountable and support global women’s rights. Our movement in Sydney is growing – we have local action groups across the city that campaign for women’s rights. You can join a group by emailing [email protected] today to connect with like-minded people, access ongoing training and deliver campaigns in your local community. Visit www.actionaid.org.au for further information about our work supporting women around the world.