Felicity Ward – Busting A Nut
Felicity Ward forged her name and face on the Australian comedy circuit via stand-up, TV guest spots, writing and everything else an over-achiever does, before moving to the UK several years ago. While she visits frequently, it’s been a while since she did a comedy tour Down Under, but she is about to return with a new show, curiously titled Busting A Nut.
“‘Busting A Nut’ means ‘to work hard’, and I’m a hard worker – I work hard on stage,” explains Ward. But there was more to it. “‘Busting A Nut’ has blue connotations and I can be pretty filthy. And then I thought the phrase ‘nut’ is a pejorative term for mental illness or being mentally ill and sometimes I talk about that and maybe the show will be about that – but it’s not. But it’s still a funny title and I got to dress up in a squirrel outfit.”
She’s referring to the publicity photo in which she is wearing a squirrel onesie, and red vintage Christian Dior pumps given to her by her mother-in-law.
Ward originally moved to London to seek career improvement and more opportunities.
“I came over here to get better, and if you stay here you have to get better. If you get worse or just stay where you are, you can’t make money,” says Ward.
It took a while to get traction, but now she finally has momentum and is spreading her comic talent across a variety of platforms.
“I think it just keeps it interesting, more than it being an obligation. It’s fun doing podcasts, it’s fun doing panel shows, it’s fun doing stand up, it’s fun opening for people,” she explains. “I’m a classic textbook extrovert in that I get energy from other people and that’s how I recharge.”
Ward promises that her new show will be very funny and only funny.
“I cannot stress how much this is just an hour of jokes. There’s barely a theme. You’ll laugh at absolutely nothing. There is no moral. My hope is that you are dumber by the end of it.”
Apr 23. Giant Dwarf, 199 Cleveland St, Redfern. $35-$38+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.giantdwarf.com.au
By Rita Bratovich
