At what point do people graduate into adulthood? This is a question that Sophie Joske, like many of us, asked herself a lot. In May of 2014, while working full time as a journalist in Perth, 21 year old Sophie decided to make a Fringe show about it. That show, Become a Functional Adult in 45 Minutes is playing the Melbourne Fringe this month.
As a graduate from Curtin University with a degree in Performance and Creative Writing, Joske spent much of her time trying to work out what her career next move was: how was she going to discover the secrets of the world that the adults around her seemed to know? She still doesn’t know the secret and doesn’t yet feel like she is an adult, but at the very least she can put on an entertaining satire about how she will tackle this. It’s something we can all relate to, and the show is a great opportunity to pick up a few tips on how we could all be a little more functional.
Become a Functional Adult in 45 Minutes is a one woman comedy, with Joske playing a heightened version of herself. In the show she has been in a ‘mature learning institute’ for six months and the audience is there to see her graduate, which proves that she is a ‘proper grown-up’ and ready to leave and take on the adult world.
Joske uses satirises beauty queen aspirations to challenge the stereotype. On the posters she is ripping barbie’s head off with her mouth while wearing her victory crown.
“Basically,” she jokes, “I really just wanted to get a boob out for the poster.” Don’t be fooled, though, “this is more than just a topless barbie show!”
Sophie has been a stand-up comedian since she was 17, and has now quit her full time job to tour with this show and get herself out there in the world of theatre. She is member of the improv theatre group, The Big Hoo Ha and has previously appeared in their Fringe shows. Become a Functional Adult in 45 Minutes is her first solo show, which she wrote herself. The show was a hit in the Perth Fringe this year, has just returned from touring Sydney and now Joske is ready to take on Melbourne.
Become a Functional Adult in 45 Minutes will run from 23 – 28 of September at Club Voltaire, 14 Raglan Street, North Melbourne, at 7:30pm.
For tickets visit melbournefringe.com.au or call (03) 9660 9666.
