Sarah on the web

K-ROCK
The Sarah and Matt Show
www.krock.com.au

Sydney Comedy Fringe Webzine
An Interview with a Comedian
www.comedy-sydney.com/Interviews/Sarah_Levett.html

The Laugh Garage
www.thelaughgarage.com

Sarah in the News

Laughter Addiction

Another North Shore comic, Sarah Levett, from Greenwich, has, at only 28, already performed more than 300 stand-up shows including gigs at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

She was exposed to the business at an early age – her mother Gillian was a comedy agent and regularly took Levett along to gigs.

Following high school, Levett did a summer comedy course at NIDA, and soon after stood up in public and tried to make an unknown group of people laugh.

“I was 19 when I first did it,” Levett says, in a voice that has the crowbar-scratching-asphalt tone of a long term chain smoker – a trait that distinguishes her on radio station Nova, where she currently works as a part of its comedy “street team”.

“I thought I was very funny, I thought I had great material. But looking back I have to say not. But at least I had the confidence to get up there.”

Part of the initial success, Levett says, came down to having supportive family and friends in the audience, many of whom didn’t come to her following effort.

“The second time I did it I thought I would never do it again. It didn’t go very well at all.” Levett says she then needed to take a break from comedy to think

‘At the Stoned Crow the guy who ran the room ended up punching a heckler in te jaw, so they closed it.’

about whether the balance between good experiences and bad was worth it. She eventually decided it was. “I’ve been very lucky,” she says. “I’ve had a majority of good experiences. Only for the first time recently did I have a show with numerous people heckling me. You always have people yelling things out, but these guys kept going and going and going and eventually security had to come over and tell them to shush.”

“You’re very vulnerable when you’re doing stand-up,” she says. “Every audience is difficult, every night is different. But that’s exciting!”

Like Townes, Levett says coming up with jokes – wether in classic setup/punchline, observational or anecdotal form – is only one part of being a stand-up comedian. Perhaps the most difficult thing to master is that seemingly artless comfort and naturalism of “stage presence”.

“I think that stage presence comes from who you are on the inside,” Levett says. The best comics, she said, are those who are natural and genuine on stage. “Something I like to see in comics is warmth. But you can’t contrive that on stage. If someone is a really angry, uptight person, then that’s what they should do on stage because that’s honest. What audiences laugh at the most is truth.”

And laughter is the name – and aim – of the game.

“If I can walk away and think I had all those people laughing, it’s the greatest feeling in the world,” Levett says.

“That’s why you do it – and why you go back for more.”

Applications are currently open for the 2006 Raw Comedy competition. In my mind’s ear, the audience is laughing, and I feel divine. Maybe just one more go.

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An Interview with a Comdedian

C.S > What is your theme song and motto?

S.L > What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! Theme song, Sarah by Starship.

C.S > If you could have sex with anyone, who would that be?

S.L > Tom "Crazy" cruise, still think he is hot and he can give me pash rash anyday! He had me at hello!

C.S > How do you feel when people don't laugh at you?

S.L > Like a knob! If you believe in what is funny and commit to it then it is less often people won't laugh! I find it more funny now though and as I get older I handle it better. I am always hard on myself and look at what I could have done to prevent the situation.

C.S > Favourite comedians/comedic role models?

S.L > Kitty Flannigan & Garry Who... Too many to list really, having grown up with comedy in my life I have loads of comedic role models and favourites!

C.S > How would you describe yourself as a human being?

S.L > Well well! I am a two shoes (goodie two shoes that is), my vices are cigs and wine though! I work hard, caring, compassionate, driven, motivated, balanced, well that's through my eyes. And being modest is not my greatest skill, so I am not up myself that's for sure. Maybe when I get tighter buns I will be though. On a whole I have good values and morals. Want to do and see everything! Always have my goals laid out! Yes I have a five year plan! Ms. Organisation! Oh and can be compulsive when it comes to the stove being off and the doors locked, so much for being balanced. I am happy and that's what really counts!

C.S > What are the important things in life?

S.L > Tight buns! oh ok! see I am obsessive too! Happiness, family, wisdom, knowledge, love, support, friends, satisfaction, peace, security!

C.S > Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

S.L > Pregnant and on a breakfast radio show, with tight buns, given up smoking and wine, still compulsive and organised though! Happy of course!

Source: http://www.comedy-sydney.com/Interviews/Sarah_Levett.html

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Funny girl finds her feet

Article from Sunday Telegraph / Careers Section Sunday 10th April 2005.

Becoming a comedian is tough but it can be rewarding. Samantha Stevens reports.

Standing up in front of thousands of people and cracking jokes for a living may sound like a bit of a laugh, but it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to carve out a career in comedy.

Although the rewards are fulfilling, and it's true that successful comedians abound, the drive and wit required to reach the heights in the comic craft are no laughing matter.

Sarah Levett's commitment to comedy beins early, gaining momentum with each audience. Carerr opportunities happened along the way.

"I was only 19 the first time I got up on stage, and I freaked out - it wasn't funny at all." Levett, 27, says. I thought I must be mad to want to be in the entertainment industry.

"It took me a few more years to gain confidence and life experience, to find my voice and be able to do stand-up comedy.

"I had always loved it, but when I was younger, I really wasn't committed. You have to be totally driven, and talent doesn't hurt either.

Levett's career really began to take off in 2000 when she joined an all-female comedy tour called Show Us Your Wits.

She also performed before packed crowds during the Sydney Olympics and at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. A chance gig with radio station Nova96.9 last year suddenly opened Levett's eyes to an other avenue of comedy.

"I got on to the Nova Street Team through my stand-up," she says.

"That really opened my eyes to the idea of doing radio. It's exciting and inspiring as a career path, and it goes hand in hand with stand-up."

But there are some downsides to a career in comedy.

It's a difficult, time consuming task to build a public profile and a good routine. Hecklers at live shows can also make an evening difficult, but Levett says they, too are just part of the job.

Fortunately, most of the time the laughs outweigh the negatives, she says.

"The best thing is making people laugh, of course; that's the most fun.

"When people come up to you after a show and found you funny - when you know that you've touched someone - it's great.

"I always wanted to do something like psychology, but this is a great way of getting into people's heads.

It won't fix any problems, of course, but it's a powerful thing to make someone laugh and feel good - even if it's just for one night."

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Sarah at her wit’s end

By LISA CAPOZZI

GREENWICH local Sarah Levett is going to ‘show us her wits’ at this years Big Laugh Comedy Festival at Parramatta on March 19.

Show Us Ya Wits stars Sarah Ciel, and Lou Pollard, and makes a hilarious comment on women and how they are affected by everything from obscene taxi drivers to mobile phones.

Sarah grew up surrounded by comedy. Her Mother operated the Comedy Agency and managed some of the best comedians in Sydney.

At 25 years of age and with more than 150 shows to her credit, Sarah is the youngest female comic working the circuit today.

In 1999 Sarah was runner-up in the Comic of the Milleniun competition. She has regular performances at the Sydney Comedy Store. “We’re very excited,” Sarah said.

“It’s just our own individual takes on things that affect us as women – like we make fun of people like Brittney Spears and Anna Kournikova.

“But we don’t just cater for women. We try and capture a male audience too,” she said.

If you’re ready to laugh your ‘wits’ off don’t miss this hilarious show before the girls take off for Melbourne to take on the Comedy Festival.

You can catch them between March 19 and March 22 at Riverside Theatres, corner of Church and Markets Streets, Parramatta.

Bookings of enquiries can be made on 8839 3399.

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