Six years ago, comedian Soulla Pants took to the stage as a nervous first timer. The timid 17-year-old, going on 18, had her name put down at an open mic night by one of her friends. She had only five days to prepare a routine; in the world of comedy, that’s nothing. Soulla took to the stage and regaled the audience with her observational jokes about her family, her work and her life in general. That first five minutes flew by. She did it, she enjoyed it, and she hasn’t looked back.
A big part of her first stand-up, and a big part of her stand-up now, is her Greek heritage. Born Soulla Porfyriou, Soulla uses the stage name Soulla Pants, thanks to a private joke between her and comedy friends that she seems cautious to reveal. Her father was born in Cyprus and her mother in Australia of Greek background, she says she takes a lot of comedy by her mother’s approach to life. She discusses what life is really like for a Greek girl, and doesn’t shy away from revealing anything.
“People find stereotypes funny,” Soulla begins explaining her style, “and the Greek stuff, it surrounds me.”
Family plays a big part in her comedy and her observations about her own immediate and extended family permeate throughout her routines. But Soulla is a refreshing voice on the circuit and takes the mundane things about life, such as work and customers, and delivers the material with a wry wit.
Now, Soulla is about to take to the stage for the Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival in the show Foreign Objects along with fellow comedians Ting Lim and TM Bishop. Their slogan for the show is ‘A Greek, an Asian and a Kiwi walk into a bar…’ and that’s exactly what you will expect as each comedian discusses their cultural heritage and how it’s shaped them with tongue firmly planted in their cheek.
“We click really well, all three of us, in some of the shows we plan on doing an improvised piece all three of us – fun on the spot. And it gives something different to the audience,” she says of the upcoming show.
Soulla is not a stranger to comedy festivals having performed previously as part of Cath Styles’ Girls Night.
“It’s really important, for any comedian – whether they are male or female, to network as much as possible and stick together,” she says of being involved in a collaborative comedy show.
“There are less female comedians and in some ways it’s an advantage and a disadvantage, but it’s always good to stick together in the end.”
Foreign Objects is on at the Adelaide Fringe Festival from 5-10 March, Red Room Austral Hotel, 205 Rundle St, Adelaide, 8:30 pm. For tickets visit www.adelaidefringe.com.au. At the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Foreign Objects is on from 9-21 April, The Upstairs Lounge, Hairy Little Sista, 240 Little Collins St, for more info visit www.comedyfestival.com.au/