FOR most of her life, comedian Emma Krause did what she believed was the sensible thing.
She became a teacher, built a career, raised a family and followed the path many expected her to take.
But underneath it all was a dream she had carried since childhood, making people laugh.
Now, after nearly a decade in comedy, sold-out shows around Australia and a growing legion of loyal fans, Krause is bringing her latest show, Spanx and the City, to Ipswich.
Describing herself as “relatable, honest and no filter”, Krause’s comedy draws heavily from everyday life, motherhood, relationships, ageing and the realities many women face but rarely talk about openly.
Before stepping onto the comedy stage, Krause spent years as a teacher across Western Australia, drawing surprising similarities between the classroom and stand-up comedy.
“Towards the end of my teaching career I went into relief teaching and that’s very similar to stand-up comedy because you’ve got your hecklers and your naughty kids that won’t stop talking,” she laughed.
The road to comedy wasn’t straightforward when, while decluttering her home shortly before turning 40, Krause stumbled across a childhood comedy book she had written after performing jokes at a friend’s birthday party.
“I always wanted to get into drama and performing, but I was told that wasn’t a sensible choice,” she said.
“I became a teacher but I never felt like I was doing what I wanted.”
Her first major show, 40 and Fabulous, explored the pressures placed on women and quickly struck a chord with audiences.
“I thought I was the only one who felt that way, but I had this outpouring of support from women saying, ‘I feel that way too’.”
The new show, Spanx and the City, continues that approach.
“It’s a show about taking the Spanx off and letting everything hang out,” she said.
“My idea is that women spend so much of their lives holding everything together and stuffing things into the proverbial Spanx.”
As for what audiences can expect in Ipswich?
A night of honesty, laughter and stories that feel a little too familiar.
Emma brings Spanx and the City to Racehorse Hotel on Friday, July 24 – tickets through Oztix.
