Multi-award winning stand-up Bec Hill is joining fellow comedian and Australian Felicity Ward in the European premiere of Kill Climate Deniers, a play about failing to talk about the issues that matter most for survival. This production is action-packed, combining fact and fiction as it explores in parallel a hostage situation teetering on the brink of calamity and what happened when Australian writer David Finnigan first tried to stage the play – including parliament debate, trolling and death threats. This play has already made a huge impact on audiences and critics alike – think fun action piece wrapped in a TED talk! We caught up with Bec Hill to talk about Kill Climate Deniers, working with Felicity Ward and whether her character would like puns…
Funny Women: Tell us about Kill Climate Deniers.
Bec Hill: In a nutshell, it’s about a group of terrorists who take Australia’s Parliament House hostage during a Fleetwood Mac concert and threaten to kill everyone unless action to completely stop climate change is taken immediately.
FW: Do you think comedy is a good medium to educate with?
BH: Yes, but only if the person who wrote it knows what they’re talking about. Thankfully, David Finnigan, the playwright, is maybe one of the smartest people I know.
FW: We know you as a comedian with a flair for puns, is this role a departure for you?
BH: I play Catch, who is the leader of the terrorist group. She probably does like puns, but for the duration of the play, she’s more preoccupied with pulling off a Die Hard-style takeover of a building. It’s a massive departure – she’s really sweary and angry and violent – and I find it incredibly therapeutic.
FW: We hear it features action sequences that Sylvester Stallone would be proud of, are you involved in any of these action sequences?!
BH: Let’s just say my personal political stance is anti-gun. But I do get to hold and shoot a lot of guns in this play and it’s incredibly exhilarating.
FW: What’s it like working with a fellow comedian and Australian Felicity Ward?
BH: I’ve known Felicity for a long time and adore her both onstage and off. Unfortunately, we’re still in a time where many comedy clubs don’t have more than one woman on the bill, so I’ve been limited in how often I get to actually perform with her. The rehearsal period for this show has been an absolute dream, getting time to hang out, but also see her in action – in all senses of the word.
FW: And finally, who are your favourite funny women?
BH: Obviously Felicity Ward. I mean… Neither you nor I have time to list them all. So instead, I’m going to list some people who are going to be massive famous in the next few years for stand-up, sitcoms and writing, so I can gloat later and refer back to this interview: Jordan Gray, Rosie Jones, Abigoliah Schamaun, Sophie Duker, Andrea Hubert, Alison Spittle, Bisha K. Ali and Sarah Bennetto. Oh yeah and Bec Hill. I hear she’s about to blow up on the acting scene.
Kill Climate Deniers is on at Pleasance London from 4th-28th June. For tickets and more information click here!
