House of Oz - The Listies Q&A
The Australian kids' comedy duo The Listies are touring their smash-hit family show, 110% Ready
Please tell us about your show. What can audiences expect when they come to see it?
110% Ready is a comedy disaster movie about the single most stressful event in family life: trying to leave the house on time. Parental proxy Rich is convinced today is finally the day it goes smoothly. Perpetual noob Matt has other ideas. Expect a poop-load of puns, a splash of improvised idiocy, and a guest appearance from the Snot Ness Monster!
What inspired it?
More than one parent has told us the show was basically triggering, which we've decided to take as a five-star review. The one that actually kicked it off belongs to a friend of Matt's, a dad of three: every single time it was finally, actually time to leave, one of the kids would be down a shoe. That missing shoe is now a character in the show. Her name is Shoesan
How does it feel to be performing at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
We should say excited (which of course we are) but also - nervous! This'll be our thirteenth Fringe and we always get nervous! It’s Edinburgh so anything could happen.
What does it mean to be part of House of Oz this year?
Incredible! HOO has been one of the legs holding up the wonky chair that is The Listies since 202. In a diminished funding environment in Australia HOO is a godsend. They have been a steadfast producing partner, friend, and muse through our last 4 Edinburghs as well as supporting us to do shows in London and Chester, right now we are in NY doing our US debut produced by House of Oz. So in short they are amazing for us.
What does it mean to bring your work to UK audiences?
What I really like is our routine is that we make a show -tour it around Australia for about a year and then we take it to the UK. so by the time we get it to an Edinburgh audience, it is absolutely humming. Which it kind of needs to be because the standard in Edinburgh is very high. Edinburgh is real hot pot for arts market globally so that means a lot to be able to show to international presenters but the audiences are great too.
Basically our aim anywhere in the world is the same : What we're chasing is a 5 year old and their Gran laughing at the same gag, for slightly different reasons.
What would you like UK audiences to know about Antipodean arts and culture right now?
It’s a thriving ecosystem- in spite of a disappointing lack of governmental support. Which is a testament to Aussie artists resilience. I would say als especially our corner - the Australian kids performance sector-The quality is high, you can see that by looking at the biggest kids shows in Edinburgh - a lot of them are from Australia.
There is a very healthy sequence of Fringe and comedy festivals: Perth and Adelaide Fringes and then, Melbourne and Sydney comedy festivals. This System has fostered a really thriving scene in Australia. There's a real DIY spirit to how a lot of us tour: pack it in a suitcase, get on the road, put the work in front of audiences.
What kind of support do artists need most when bringing work overseas?
The unglamorous stuff: Flights! Accom! Freight! Insurance! Proper marketing to actually build an audience instead of scrambling on the ground, help with negotiations with venues, and basically- the admin support that will otherwise eat every spare hour you've got. Help on the day with bump in! And a friendly face. None of that is creative work, but it's the difference between a show reaching an audience and not.
What's next for you after Edinburgh?
Back to Australia for some touring, Brisbane festival, then a tour to China later in the year, and a new TV project that's slooooooowly making its way toward being real. Immediately after Edinburgh, the plan is to stop being 110% anything for at least a weekend! By then we will need a day where nobody's looking for a missing shoe.