This Q&A is with Natalie Durkin, writer of Polly: A 21st Century Love Story. We’re catching up with her as she gears up for an exciting workshop at The Other Palace, following three years of collaboration with Joe Tapper. Together, they’ve been building the world of Polly! piece by piece. Next up, Natalie is ready to put the work in front of audiences and see where this modern love story goes next.
How did you get into comedy?
As an actor I was always drawn to comedic roles and had spent my childhood watching Victoria Wood and Joyce Grenfell, but I’d convinced myself you had to be super smart to be a writer/comedian. In 2016 I co-ran a comedy weekend with sketches, songs, stand up and promised myself that in 2017 I would go to an open mic. I didn’t. Then during the pandemic I looked at my ‘I wish I’d done this’ list and was determined not to have anything left on that list that I didn’t do because of fear. And… I was dating a comedian. So he helped me write my first set and I never looked back. It gave me so much confidence that I could write that one day at work I accosted Joe and told him we were going to pitch our musical to a producing panel in 3 weeks. At that point we hadn’t written anything.
What’s your show about and where can we see it?
Polly is a rom-com inspired musical which explores what it takes to live authentically and who we seek permission from to do just that. It’s also silly, messy, joyous and queer! We’re about to have a public and industry showing at The Other Palace on 18th Feb – very excited.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I believe strongly in writing what you know so most of my writing draws from personal experience. My stand up is highly anecdotal and draws from crazily unbelievable moments from my life. Whereas Polly is more emotionally autobiographical – the feelings and emotional experiences are where I’ve drawn truth and then the plot is inspired by culture around me.
Any advice for those starting out?
Just do the thing. Do the thing. Fail. Fail a lot. As women we have a tendency to be more cautious jumping in but the learning is in the doing. Also ask people for help – I’ve been so lucky that most of the times people say yes and my work wouldn’t be where it is without them.
Who are your favourite Funny Women?
Gosh there are so many. I think on a personal level these people inspired me Julie Walters, Doris Day, Carol Burnette, Sandra Bullock. But now who I’d tell everyone to watch: Helen Baur, Rosie Jones, Sindhu Vee, Janine Harouni, Sarah Roberts, Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, Adele Cliff, Kate Cheka.
What do you love about comedy/writing/producing/etc?
I love the autonomy of getting to create stories that inspire and add to the canon. With comedy I love getting to explore taboo subjects and still find the laughter.
You can get your tickets to Polly: A 21st Century Love Story here.
And you can follow Natalie in all the usual places – @nataliedurkincomedy
