5 Questions with Guneet Kaur
Guneet Kaur is a writer, stand-up comedian, and producer of Sydney’s only women’s comedy night, Yeah The Girls comedy.
Guneet became a RAW Comedy National Finalist in 2022 and has since performed at some of the most prestigious comedy clubs across the country, including the Comedy Store.
No.1
Tell us more about your upcoming show, Manic Pixie Dream Goblin. What did the process from conceptualisation to realising the idea look like?
A lot of the show is a compilation of jokes that I've written over the years, as well as some stories. The process mostly involved looking at overarching themes—I have a lot of material about dating, or women's health and mental health in general. Once I had a general idea of what the show was about there was a lot of playing around with structure which was fun. I had a director (Kevin Jin) who was a great help
No.2
What made you realise stand-up was something you were passionate about doing?
A lot of comedians know they want to be stand-up comedians as children; they'll watch stand-up religiously. I was not like that. I found my way into stand-up in a way I can only describe as a happy accident. A friend of mine signed up for a comedy night and encouraged me to sign up as well, so I did mostly out of solidarity, and with knowledge that since no one knew me, and since I had never performed before, it was unlikely I'd be picked to perform. I was picked to perform, and panicked. I
eventually put together a set, performed it, and it went so well I thought ‘that was great, I should really do that again’. I slowly discovered my passion for stand-up from there.
No.3
You’re a producer at Sydney’s only women’s comedy night, Yeah The Girls, as well as a contributing writer with the hit ABC TV show Question Everything. How do you think producing shows for others helps with refining your own craft and ideas? How do you switch between versions of yourself through these different mediums?
I've never thought about producing Yeah The Girls as being related to my own stand-up but there is a similar level of consideration in terms of structure and tone. In the same way I'd like an upbeat start to my own show, I generally try and pick energetic MCs to host. While I don't control anything the comedians say on stage when I produce comedy, I try and program line-ups to have variety in terms of style, so the night is more engaging for the audience. There are similar considerations I've made while figuring out how to structure my own show, like trying to make sure the beginning and end have a more high energy feel.
I had the great pleasure of writing on Question Everything for a couple of weeks last year. It was very different in the sense that I didn't feel like I was switching to another version of myself; rather it felt like I had to learn another tone of voice to speak in, as I had never written on a news comedy panel show before. It was a fun creative challenge that I really enjoyed. A lot of the writing process was research, which meant that in addition to reading a lot of news, I was also watching more breakfast TV than any one person should watch (though arguably that's any amount). During my last week I spent nearly an hour watching a press conference about rats in New York, whilst diligently noting all the parts that would make for funny sound bites. That was a highlight.
No.4
In the write-up for Manic Pixie Dream Goblin, it states that you’ve been described as ‘sharp’ and ‘anxious’ in reviews, and that you delve into various aspects of the complexities of your identity. How does vulnerability come into play, and what kind(s) of personas (or not) do you tap into when you do stand-up?
While there are definitely things I don't feel comfortable sharing on stage, I find it pretty easy to be more raw on stage. There's an element of performance which blurs reality (sure, I might have told you an embarrassing story, but how much of it was true?). There's also a certain kind of vulnerability that's easier to have with strangers, like if I'm telling a filthy joke I'd prefer that my parents weren't sitting in the front row. Overall though, I think stand-up makes it easier for me to be vulnerable, because telling jokes about something that might be difficult to talk about really normalises whatever you're talking about. And of course, if you tell an embarrassing story it's quite likely that someone in the audience has experienced something similar.
On stage I feel I'm a more confident version of myself, one who's maybe a bit more dry and cynical (but hopefully in a fun way as well). It's also easier to be more crass, more rude, or just plain dirty on stage than it would be in a one-on-one conversation. Humour seems to soften things.
No.5
What do you think humour does in stand-up comedy that can’t be achieved through other art forms?
Stand-up seems to differ in art in that the onus of it of ‘stand-up’ being understood is on the artist. Like, if a poet writes a poem you do not understand, that doesn't mean the poem is ‘bad’, but if a comedian performs to a crowd who doesn't get their material, something has gone awry.
In that sense it feels more accessible than a lot of art forms—there are no degrees in stand-up comedy. The accessible nature of it is what makes me hesitate to call myself an artist (what kind of art is commonly performed at a pub to a drunk audience?). I think that's where the power of stand-up lies though. Few people actively seek out ideas that challenge their views, but comedy is great for that. Humour is a great way to be playful with complex ideas or social taboos without being too confrontational.
Find out more
Guneet Kaur (RAW Comedy National Finalist 2022) debuts her first solo hour about being the messy queer mid-20s goblin-woman that she is. Expect a smorgasbord of jokes about dating, periods and being a menace to society.
Guneet Kaur is a writer, stand-up comedian, and producer of Sydney’s only women’s comedy night, Yeah The Girls comedy. She made her way onto Sydney’s comedy scene a few years ago and has been leaving audiences in stitches ever since. Guneet became a RAW Comedy National Finalist in 2022 and has since performed at some of the most prestigious comedy clubs across the country, including the Comedy Store. Recently she made her mark as a contributing writer on the hit ABC show Question Everything. With her quirky observations and hilarious takes on the complexities of her identity, she has been described as both “sharp” and “anxious” by the Sydney Morning Herald. Guneet is a comedy force not to be missed.
Runs May 18 & 19 at Sydney Comedy Festival. Tickets here.