10 Quick Qs – Tegan Higginbotham
1. Describe your show Twitter-style, 140 character or less!
Last year, more Aussies attended the AFL’s Home & Away season than Catholics did church. Sport IS the new religion. Should we be worried?
2. Do you feel pressured to be funny at family gatherings?
Not really. For anyone who has a crazy family like mine, you’ll understand that no matter how wonderful your jokes are they’ll never compare to the sheer gold that presents itself when all your relatives get drunk and are forced to spend time together. So I tend to stay quiet and play the observer role.
3 What are you most looking forward to? If not, what is your least favourite thing about the festival?
Getting through my opening night. No matter how prepared you are, there’s always that niggling little voice in the back of your mind telling you that you don’t have a show, or jokes, or (when your particularly vulnerable) any pants on. At the very least, those first two thoughts tend to vanish after the opening show.
4. What was the most challenging aspect about preparing your show?
Avoiding the temptations I’ve listed under question 8. Focus, Tegan! Focus!
5. If you could be any character in any movie, who and what would it be?
Ripley in Aliens.
6. Who’s your biggest comedic idol?
Rik Mayall and Bill Murray
7. Is heckling allowed?
Depends. Is “WE LOVE YOU TEGAN!” a heckle? If so, yes. Especially if Ewan McGregor is the one doing the yelling.
8. What’s your favourite Internet-related guilty indulgence?
It used to be watching episodes of Toddlers and Tiaras on YouTube, before I had Foxtel. But now, it’s before and after photos. I want botox disasters, dodgy boob jobs and lips that look like hotdog buns. Gimme, gimme, gimme!
9. What is the biggest accolade you’ve received from one of your shows?
I know it’s quite boring, but when people say I’m funny after a gig, my little heart soars.
10. What other Fringe show are you most excited to catch up with?
I can’t wait to see Justin Hamilton’s Johnny Loves Mary 1994. Its been selling out most nights in Adelaide so hopefully I can get in and see it come ComFest time.
