Joel Creasey describes himself as the Cameron Diaz of Australian comedy. To find out exactly why, you’ll have to watch his hilarious live special, Queen of the Outback, filmed at the Broken Heel Festival in Broken Hill. Let’s just say, it’s not only because he believes that, like Diaz, he’ll never win any awards. Although WHO reckons he should!
How are you feeling about your comedy special finally hitting the airwaves?
I’m so excited! It was filmed in September last year and I’ve had a fair bit happen since, so it’s like, “Oh yeah, that’s right.” Hand on heart, it was one of the most wonderful weekends I’ve ever experienced. We had the best time. The love and the community spirit, as daggy as that sounds, was pretty special.
You can see that on the faces in the crowd.
It was so cool. I was really honoured. It is primarily a drag festival, but they gave me that time onstage to perform and they were so lovely with me. I’m definitely going back this year, but as a punter. I’ve already got my room booked.
This is also part of the Mardi Gras Film Festival and is airing during WorldPride. Does that give it some special significance to you?
For sure. This time of year, Pride and Mardi Gras have always been big in my calendar. I love this time of year, there’s so much going on, it’s going to be wild!
You include in your stand-up people who are close to you, like your family and your boyfriend. Do you ever run past them what you’re going to say?
I give them a bit of a heads up, but I think they all kind of get that it’s part of the deal. Because I make the most fun of myself, everyone just goes down with the ship. I’m the ship and unfortunately my family and friends are on it. Jack [Stratton-Smith] has been great. I don’t think he’s ever said to me, “Can you not say that?” or “Can you not do that?” He’s been very supportive.
Who do you find funny? Who and what makes you laugh?
My friends make me laugh and a lot of them aren’t comedians, they just have the best stories and I love sitting around and listening to them. Otherwise, Rhys Nicholson makes me laugh. Becky Lucas makes me laugh. And then the classics. I still go back on a regular basis and watch Joan Rivers’ stand-up routines.
Are you constantly mining your life for punchlines, or are you able to switch off?
Oh I am! I’m constantly making notes in my phone. Sometimes I worry I’m looking for bad things to happen to me though, so that I can then turn it into material. It’s like trauma that I turn into comedy.
So what are you looking forward to this year?
I’ve been filming in Perth for the last five weeks, a documentary about dogs in pounds called New Leash on Life, so I spent that time living with my parents and that was … a lot. It made me wish I was touring because I got so much material out of it. I’m about to go into Eurovision season with the beautiful Myf Warhurst. Then at some stage I better focus on my radio show. That’s there every day and I love doing that. So I’m pretty lucky.
Queen of the Outback is on Prime Video
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