Danielle Walker

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Friday 18th January 2019

Aussie comics must reeeeally love the Soho Theatre. Why else would they give up a few weeks of their balmy summer back home to pitch up in the depths of a London winter? Danielle Walker has done just that - or is about to anyway; in her shoes we'd probably touch down the day before - and kicks off a 10-night run of her award-winning show Bush Rat on Jan 23. But who exactly is this hotly-tipped incomer?

"I'm Danielle, I love to talk about growing up in regional Australia with my very off kilter family; mostly because it wasn't until my late teens/early twenties I realised that a lot of stuff that happened to me wasn't normal," Walker explains.

"For example, my uncle was a pig hunter for a while and the way you show you've killed a pig is you cut off its snout, and the farmer who has hired you will pay you per snout. So once my uncle said he had a surprise for me and told me to shut my eyes and put my hands out. I did. When I opened them I had a number of frozen pig snouts in my hands.

"I'm okay, don't worry, I'm desensitised to it (Sorry if you aren't and found this hard to read, but also it is probably good to know before you come to my show)."

Snout trauma apart "it's a really fun silly hour" and takes place in a nice warm room, most importantly. Speaking of which, let's head back to the Queensland coast, five years ago.

First gig?

April 2014, it was loads of people doing their first gigs in Townsville, all super supportive and there were probably 150 people there. It went really well and I had the most fun ever. I have a video of it that is very embarrassing, mostly because I wore light grey jeans but the lighting was really orange and it looks like I'm not wearing pants.

Favourite show, ever?

I guess my single favourite gig would be RAW comedy, because it was in front of like 2,000 people so I don't get to perform in front of that many people often, and it was so much fun. But my favourite comedy gig is a room called Crab Lab in Melbourne's CBD which is just comedy nerds coming to watch.

Worst gig?

I had a really fun run of Bush Rat at Melbourne [International] Comedy Festival, but there was one show where the audience were just not into it. It was so bad, I bombed for the entire show. It was the only show out of 23 I used the fire escape to get out of the building so I didn't have to see the audience.

The weirdest live experience?

I did a gig where the entire audience was a meetup group. A depression and anxiety meetup group. Nobody did well.

Who's the most disagreeable person you've come across in the business?

The audience from the show where I left out the fire escape.

Is there one routine/gag you loved, that audiences inexplicably didn't?

Yes, but I'm not talking to you about it because looking back they had every reason not to enjoy it and I am a psycho for saying it out loud.

What's your best insider travel tip, for gigging comics?

Take a dressing gown with you so you can always wear it in your room and be comfortable always, you also feel luxurious. Also take your own shampoo and conditioner; hotel shampoo and conditioner is not good. And take your own tea because sometimes they have shit tea, so keep some of your favourite on you at all times.

The most memorable review, heckle or post-gig reaction?

A man once walked over to me and said he really liked my comedy and then he turned to my boyfriend and said 'You've got yourself a crazy one there mate' and laughed. He is sadly no longer with us RIP.

How do you feel about where your career is at, right now?

Is my dad writing these questions?

Dear Dad, yes, I could make more money if I worked with you at the bank. However, I would also probably get addicted to gambling and I would be fired after six months because I have social anxiety and would never be able to liaise with clients and would keep putting off meetings.