Benonian tickling people’s funny bones abroad
Urzila Carlson didn't go looking for comedy; comedy found her.
Although her “accidental” love affair with comedy was sparked by chance, the former Benoni resident has successfully managed to tickle people’s funny bones in New Zealand and the world, over the last nine years.
“I worked in advertising, as a designer, and I left Ogilvy (advertising and marketing agency) – where I was working – to move to another agency, and my colleagues thought it’ll be funny to give me a contract to go do an open mic night at a comedy club, as a joke gift when I left,” said Carlson from her adopted country, which she has called home for nine years.
“I thought I’d be a good sport and go do it because I hadn’t been in the country for long, so I wanted to make a good impression.
“I went and did it – the scariest thing I’ve ever done.”
This stint was only the beginning for the soon-to-be popular comedian.
“I thought that was it, but apparently not. We didn’t know it was with the start of the comedy festival and they were looking for new talent, so I went into the final and won New Zealand’s Best Newcomer in 2008.”
The 39-year-old has a list of accolades to her name, including the New Zealand Comedy Guild’s Best Female Comedian for 2010 – 2014 and TV3 People’s Choice Award at the New Zealand Comedy Festival for 2013 and 2014, to name a few.
She is also a columnist for New Zealand’s Woman’s Weekly, an aspiring author, a TV panellist and a corporate MC.
In spite of her ever-growing success abroad, the comic attributes her storytelling to her country of birth.
“I think the fact that, as a South African, I shoot straight from the hip and just basically go unfiltered,” she said.
“I just say what I think and their sense of humour is very close to ours really.
“We all can have a good laugh at ourselves.
“Comedy is all about life experience and what the audience can relate to, or have always wanted to know about. “Because I lived there till the age of 31, a lot of my foundation is South African based.
“Also, nothing makes anyone more patriotic than emigrating.
“I consider myself a storyteller whose amazed that people laugh at my stories!
“I think most South Africans are natural storytellers and we definitely see things on the lighter side.”
She told aspiring comedians to read a lot and stay true to themselves to make a success in the industry.
“Talk about what you know and don’t do any material you won’t want your mother to listen to,” she said.
“Sometimes young comics go too hard on the filth and it doesn’t work with the audience.”
She still holds Benoni dear to her heart.
“I’d love to tour South Africa.”
“I’ll start in Benoni and end in Benoni for sure!”
