(Over) sharing is caring

Ahead of her upcoming tour, New Zealandbased comedian Urzila Carlson talks to Jay Richardson about her 1950s housewife phase and trying not to sound creepy

Originally from South Africa, Urzila Carlson has become a big deal on the comedy circuit in Australia as well as New Zealand, where she lives and began her move into stand-up. An opinionated, often chattily indiscreet act, Carlson nevertheless gives real thought to what she says on stage, as she reflects on the modern paradox of people oversharing certain aspects of their lives while fiercely guarding others.

She admires the honesty of UK and Irish comedians, as well as audiences over here, and they’ll have a chance to check her out on the upcoming It’s Personal tour, which follows a well-received 2020 Netflix special, Overqualified Loser. ‘If anything happens to me personally that other people can relate to, I’m happy to share that,’ says Carlson, although she qualifies the extent of her openness. ‘I’ll never share anything that has harmed me or caused me to have to speak to my therapist because, presumably, if it harms me, it’ll hurt others. And I’m of the firm belief that as comics, our job is to make people’s days lighter, not add to trauma.’ Even so, Carlson insists she doesn’t actively police what comes out of her mouth. ‘I guess the handbrake is always about a quarter of the way up as far as personal stuff goes.’

Doing 300 shows a year until New Zealand’s strict covid lockdown, Carlson embraced the chance given to her by the pandemic to spend more time with her wife and children. ‘I took heaps of time off,’ she recalls. ‘Initially I was like a 1950s housewife: baking, cleaning and avoiding dick. Then I got to spend loads of time in quarantine and that’s when I started writing.’

As an expat, globetrotter and youngest of her siblings, Carlson reckons she’s a natural, slightly detached student of humanity, and doesn’t mind others interpreting her openness as an invitation to tell her personal things about themselves. ‘Growing up in South Africa has given me a unique perspective on a very diverse cultural landscape and I love seeing it; I love seeing how people interact with each other, their elders and their environment. I think it’s hella interesting.’

Carlson reflects further on the consequences of being the youngest in a family. ‘I think from an early age I was on someone’s lap, watching what was going on with the others, and I still love paying attention. Comedy is about finding common ground. And talking and observing people is how we do that. Most people have something interesting to share and I’m here for it. I say “observing” and not “watching” though, because it sounds less creepy.’

Urzila Carlson: It’s Personal, The Stand, Edinburgh, Wednesday 8 & Thursday 9 February; Òran Mór, Glasgow, Friday 10 February.