We caught up with Georgie Carroll to find out how she’s been coping with lockdown, how she worked with Joe Lycett in a sushi shop, her favourite on-stage moment and what we can expect from her world premiere performance this Saturday, The Gloves are Off.
Have you found yourself doing any bizarre activities during lockdown?
I’ve decided to do everything but just once, bake one cake, do one jigsaw, I got mad into the paint pour craze (google it, it is unexplainable) I did like three of them. I did start with the spring cleaning thing, one room felt good, second room felt like I was wasting my life. Nursing is pretty bizarre, I do that again now, does that count?
What’s biggest lesson quarantine has taught you?
I am sure there is lots to be learned but I am not quite there yet. On any given day the lesson can be different. One day I learn that time with family is the absolute best and the next day I learn that I need a bigger house with my own wing if possible.
What’s your favourite on-stage moment you’ve had so far?
I am a marathon runner not a sprinter when it comes to stand up, I love solo hours and festivals. The evolution of a show from penning it to the end of a season is incredible and so it’s not an onstage ”moment” more a part of the process that I love. The bit where a show becomes loose and tight all at the same time in a room full of people who had a wash and got babysitters and paid money to see you.
How did you first get into comedy and how did you first realise you were ‘funny’?
It started with the ‘I’m going to do everything once’ mentality. I had no idea it was an art form. I thought it was like Karaoke, you just got up and had a go. I did 5 mins of what I thought was funny, I have watched it since, it was wordy and mean at points but the audience were proper on board with it being my first time. I was pretty hooked from that gig.
Have you ever been star struck by another comedian?
Yes Joe Lycett. I was in the green room of my first Opera house gig and it was stacked with the UK comics of my youth. I just sat quiet giving myself the whole ”you are enough” talk, in-front of the buffet table next to Joe not quite knowing who he was if I am honest. He looked familiar but I thought he was someone’s PR or something. I like to get my silly on before a show so when Phil Jupitus came to get food from the table I pretended it was my shop ”you can have as many sushi as you want for 5 dollars, we have to throw it out in half a hour.” I know, stupid right? But infinitely better than small talk. Joe helped out in the shop when it got busy and when we weren’t serving we had a good old bitch about colleagues and stuff. We got the live in 5 call and Joe turned out to be the MC. It is fair to say I am a little in love with the guy.
What can we expect to see from your show The Gloves are Off?
You know how we talked about me loving a marathon? This was an Ultra Marathon, it is me using all my super powers that I built up over 10 years of shows and leaving it all on the pitch. You can see the show off bursting out of me, its glorious if I do say so myself. I cannot wait to show it to you see ya there. Stay safe, stay sane, stay kind, Georgie.
If you have a question of your own for Georgie Carrol, make sure you tune in to The Gloves are Off, this Saturday, August 22nd as she will be live, answering all your questions at the end of the show.
