Sixty women in comedy, including a comedian who grew up in Albury, feature in a newly released book that offers some funny, clever and inspiring insights.
Like never before, women’s voices are being heard loud and clear across the globe and Joanne Brookfield’s brand new book ‘No Apologies: Women in Comedy Claiming their Space, Finding their Voices and Telling their Stories’ is set to keep that conversation going.
While these days she’s a breakfast radio host and has appeared in her own ABC TV comedy special, Geraldine Hickey grew up in Albury and is one of the sixty women featured in the book.
Released this week across Australia and New Zealand, ‘No Apologies’ also includes interviews with trailblazers Wendy Harmer and Rachel Berger; household names Judith Lucy, Denise Scott, Fiona O’Loughlin and Jo Stanley; Netflix stars Urzila Carlson and Cal Wilson; plus the current Queens of TV Comedy, The Kates (Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney). T
The book also includes insights from rising stars such as Steph Tisdell, Annie Louey and Anna Piper Scott and chats with women who work behind the scenes, as well.
While the book talks specifically with women in comedy, the stories they tell are universal. Breaking down barriers, taking charge and creating change; permission, confidence, ambition; moving overseas, starting over, wanting to quit; money, motherhood and menopause; coming out, surviving cancer and mental health.
No Apologies covers plenty of ground relevant to all women, as this diverse collection of fabulous and funny women share the ways they’ve lived the feminist mantra of ‘nevertheless, she persisted’ and the triumphs they’ve enjoyed as a result.