Comedy central

As Jody Ekert sees it, something is missing from Sydney stand-up comedy.

For the past two years Ekert has made her name as a comic with shows like the memorably titled White Trash Lesbian.

But she remains one of the few openly lesbian comedians on the Sydney scene.

From the first time I ever did it I was a lesbian comedian. I was always open about sexuality and very rarely do you run into people like that, Ekert says.

Comedy for so long has been [performed by] 20-something, white males drunk at the pub.

Enter Giggling Gertie, a two-day stand-up comedy workshop Ekert will run during this year’s Mardi Gras season.

Ekert and other established performers will share their wisdom with upcoming lesbian talent.

It’s trying to be the breeding ground for the next bunch of people, Ekert says.

Ekert says successful female comics are often good storytellers, but the workshop will be open to all lesbians.

You get some people off stage who are very shy and introverted and then go on stage as comedians.

After the workshop, participants will have the chance to perform their material at a special comedy night at the Imperial Hotel.

The Imperial has put its drag show back so we can have a night-time event on a Friday. We’ve actually got a whole Mardi Gras event just for them, Ekert says.

Giggling Gertie applicants so far suggest it could be an unusually funny night. A 50-year-old doing a PhD and two women who are straight but grew up with gay parents have already signed up.

You get a whole second generation perspective coming through, Ekert says.

I’ve never heard anyone doing material about those kinds of growing-up experiences.

Giggling Gertie is on 10 and 11 February at the Dickson Space Hall, 35 Dickson St, Newtown. The two-day workshop costs $25.

The Giggling Gertie Showcase is on 23 February at the Imperial Hotel. For more information contact Jody Ekert on [email protected] or visit Jody Ekert’s website.