What's It Like To . . . Do Stand-up
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday October 7, 2008
WHEN newly elected Lake Macquarie councillor Hannah Gissane isn't performing public duties or studying for a combined degree in communications and law at the University of Newcastle, she's up on stage as a stand-up comedian. Hannah, who went to Broadmeadow Performing Arts School, said she had always harboured a desire to work in stand-up.
She decided to pick up a mic in February this year after hearing comedy on the radio. In that short time Hannah has already done more than 50 gigs. "Stand-up is heartbreaking and beautiful," she said. "The thing about it is when you kill there's nothing like it, it's such a natural high. "It's such beautiful but fleeting moment when people are laughing in response to your joke. It's also really draining. It takes so much energy just writing jokes to ensure you always have new material. When you go into a room trying to respond to the context with any comedy is hard, you've got to contextualise it depending on the atmosphere."
© 2008 Newcastle Herald
