There is a common belief that comedians are funny to escape their sadness; that often, behind the jokes, pratfalls and silly voices, there hides a depressed, tortured clown, squeezing laughs from audiences in an attempt to evade crippling melancholia.
This stereotype, which may have its roots in commedia dell’arte’s tear-faced Pierrot, is not, of course, true of every comic. And not every comic who identifies as having some form of mental illness is a tortured artist.
But ask a comedian if mental illness can play a role in their work and the answer is ”yes”. Or ”yes” put in a much funnier way.
Rhys Nicholson, a Sydney-based comedian who is outspoken about his depression and eating disorder, believes mental health issues are widespread in the comedy community.
”It’s a pretty big generalisation, but I’ve definitely found it to have some truth,” he says. ”Anxiety and depression are big ones. Substance problems are big, whether they know it or not. There’s a running joke that, well, we’re all broken people.
Beyond a joke: Fiona O’Loughlin has suffered from bouts of depression.
”Of course, I know a great many funny people who are very well-rounded, particularly fine people. It’s like saying that all lawyers are d—s. There are some nice lawyers. But, on the whole, most of them are bad people.”
Nicholson’s comedy, which has garnered widespread critical acclaim since he began performing five years ago, is explicit, dark, confessional stuff.
His graphic insights into sex, religion, politics and mental health issues make arrestingly frank comedy. His last show,
