Women Like Us….
Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs are the comedic super stars behind the successful touring show Women Like Us and they are coming to Toowoomba to raise money for Lifeline Darling Downs & South West QLD Ltd.
They have taken the raw power of their solo stand up and combined forces to create not one, but two hours of rapid fire stand up. It’s relentless, and show after show audience members continue to be amazed that the two can not only keep the pace, they build throughout the night, bringing audiences to their feet cheering for more.
What started out as an idea by two women comics to step away from the male dominated comedy rooms into venues where women’s stories and experiences are centre stage has not only been a success, it’s created a movement. Women around the country are excited and inspired to see their stories told, their day’s unpacked, their fears and hopes exploded, and the popular perfectionistic mythology around body image, ageing, parenting and love debunked. Women Like Us are real women, with real stories.
‘Women Like Us is more than a comedy show’ says Mandy Nolan. ‘ It’s a mission! Our mission was to create a show that made women feel good about themselves. We’re building a movement of strong body positive women who are sick of the bullshit, and who want to see their lives and their stories in the comedy that they laugh at.’
‘It’s not a show just for women’ says Ellen Briggs, ‘In the same way a comedy show by two men would never be seen as a bloke’s only show. Women Like Us is about making our experiences universal rather than ‘niche’. And as it turns out, there are a lot more Women Like Us out there then we ever realised. There’s even a growing tribe of men Like Us too!’
Both Nolan and Briggs are in demand on the comedy circuit as solo comedians, but together is when the magic happens. Just this year they released their co-authored book Women Like Us nationally with sell out launches from Melbourne to Sydney to Brisbane and beyond. With a web series in production and a podcast in the pipeline, and international touring just ahead, there’s not much these two haven’t got on their radar. Except perhaps nanna naps. There ain’t no time for lying down when you’re a super charged stand up.
Women Like Us has sold out some venues over 6 times and regularly attracts capacity crowds. Their philosophy is to not only tour capital cities but as country women (they both hail from Mullumbimby in Northern NSW) they endeavour to take in regional towns, country halls and pubs alongside theatres and festivals.
Women Like Us is stand up at its best, where Ellen and Mandy talk about housework, chickens, love, big undies, disappointment, resentment, sex when you’re drunk, fit bits, yoga farts and being a menopausal woman dealing with teenage angst. They’re overworked, overweight and over it. Don’t miss it.
Women Like Us perform for Unleash the Beast Writers Festival in a fundraiser for Lifeline Darling Downs and South West QLD Ltd at the Armitage Centre in Toowoomba on Wednesday 10th October.
Tickets are $40/45 and are on empiretheatre.com.au or call 1300 655 299. Doors 7pm. Show 7.30pm.
