If Olga Koch has one trademark, it is how she presents herself as pretty damn bulletproof. Embarrassment just doesn’t seem to factor into her life and why should it? She is highly accomplished with a comedy career that is going from strength to strength, a Master’s degree, and a threesome under her belt. What’s her secret? In Prawn Cocktail all is revealed.
Koch has an ability, or rather insistence, on reframing things. She doesn’t fail, she simply gains experience. If it’s good for a comedy routine all the better, though it certainly won’t be a self-deprecating one – refreshingly Koch is rarely, if ever, the butt of her own jokes.
For her Master’s degree Koch focuses on parasocial relationships on the internet, specifically that new phenomenon The Reply Guy. These are people who feel compelled to comment on and contact public figures such as Koch herself with their opinions, forming a one-sided relationship that, to them, seems interactive.
In the meantime Koch embarks on a little fantasy of her own, having met a guy at a wedding, resulting in a rather huge Go Big or Go Home (or rather to Tokyo) gesture. Hinjinks and a great comedy routine ensue, but at what cost?
A surprisingly reflective show, at 30 Koch is now ready to delve a bit deeper into her own motivations and relationships. This is an unexpected departure for Koch and it’s great to see her reveal a vulnerable side on her own terms.
★★★★
Olga Koch: Prawn Cocktail is at Monkey Barrel 1 until 27th August. For tickets click here.
