Five Minutes With Nikki Britton – Comedy, Clowns and Clinkers

By Benjamen Judd

While we normally get our comedy-kicks from watching kids and animals fall over on YouTube, Sydney-based comedian Nikki Britton is our new favourite go-to laugh maker. As it happens, she is appearing The Factory Theatre this Saturday, April 25 with her brand new show – The Other 3%.

We were lucky enough to catch up with Nikki and discuss her work, what drove her into the notoriously precarious field of comedy, her stint at clown school and even touched on the tragic lack of Clinkers during her childhood.

QT: Hi Nikki, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Firstly, how did you get into comedy? 

NB: Accidentally. Many drinks were involved. I was in a friend’s backyard telling some ridiculous story of the day’s events (All true. My comedy is based on outrageous things happening to me in my daily life and I just recount the events. Seriously. I weed in my own eye earlier today. That will probably make the show tonight) and she suggested I enter the RAW comedy competition. I had never considered stand up and laughed at the proposition but, unbeknownst to me, she had already signed me up. I woke to an email confirming my participation and I’ve been getting up ever since.

When it comes to your own entertainment, what comedians does a comedian turn to for laughs?

We’re as subjective as the audiences we play to. Everyone has a style or star they love, but for me, it’s those who are being particularly ridiculous or have a theatrical element, and perform with total pleasure- Smart Casual, Anne Edmonds, Dr Brown, Joel Creasey, Nina Conti. I also love the work of the greats like Lucille Ball, Robin Williams, Louis CK- oh god, don’t make me choose!

Can you tell us, what’s a good comedy act for you?

One that is accessible and that an audience can connect to. I really love intellectual, cerebral comedy and I adore super, off the wall, wacky comedy but if either of them come at the cost of alienating your audience, it’s not a good act. Having said that, I have been surprised at some things I have laughed at!

Is it true you studied to be a clown in Paris? Can you explain what goes into that experience?

 It certainly is. What goes into it is a lot of money and all of your self-respect. I showed up in Paris thinking I would be embarking on a “theatrical clown” course, how to fall down foppishly and the like, but on our second day we were issued with our red noses. It was proper oversized shoes, small car kind of clown. The thing about clowning is, in order to succeed, you must fail. That takes complete removal of ego and a big shift in self-esteem. It’s still one of the most difficult and most incredible things I’ve ever done.

Your current show, The Other 3%, is inspired by that minute difference between humans and apes. Can you give a little background on the topic?

We share 97% of our DNA with the Great Apes which I think is so incredible- what is that 3%?! We’re flying planes but shooting each other and they’re throwing poo but living a fairly peaceful existence.

I went on a trek through Borneo a few years ago in the hope of having a lifelong dream come true – to see an Orang-utan in the wild! I’ve always been fascinated by animals, even as a kid, and the prospect of seeing one of my favourites out there in the jungle blew my mind. Unfortunately, I was super unprepared for the trip, hence, hilarity ensued. It’s as much about us as a species, as it is about them as a species, as it is about me as an idiot.

What can your audiences expect from this latest show?

There will be the signature interpretive dance, lots of characters and a great bloody story. There also may or may not be an actual Orang-utan.

When you were growing up, what flavour Clinker was the one you made a wish on?

Oh no, another thing I missed out on – I didn’t even know that was a thing! I was allergic to chocolate (I know, tragic childhood!). My Mum would only ever give me carob. Blergh! But if I had to choose, it would probably be yellow, like the sunshine!

What ideas are you currently playing with for future shows?

I hope to do a piss take of a very serious, terribly earnest show about art. Clad in a leotard.

Nikki Britton will be performing The Other 3 % at The Factory Theatre on Saturday, April 25.