Theatre

Presented by Nicole Henriksen

Pho Barn at Noodle Palace 

Interview by Jasmine Seabrook-Benson

Nicole Henriksen has performed her alternative comedy shows around the world since debuting as a live performer in 2011. This year, she brings an entirely new show to Fringe World Perth with debut theatre production Nicole Henriksen is Makin it Rain.

In her solo show, Henriksen offers a unique and candid performance that delves into her experiences as a stripper. It explores strip club culture as well as our society, grappling with themes of sex, sexuality, and body image.

Distinctive and complex, Makin it Rain deals with much more than just full-frontal nudity. It allows the audience a peek behind the curtain – as it were – of not only the striptease industry but Nicole herself.

“Doing that job and having everyone else kind of recommend that I do a show started the ball rolling,” Henriksen says. “And then once it did start rolling, I realised what I was sitting on and what I could potentially achieve, which was really important to me.”

On the genre of the show, Henriksen reflects, “I could have had a stand-up comedy show about it, I could have had a cabaret or a burlesque show about it. But I realised I didn’t want to have a distance between myself and the audience anymore. I actually wanted to challenge myself to break that down even further”.

It was for Nicole validating to be able to share “a space where I can talk about so many things that matter to me.” On how it feels to perform this show, she says “allowing myself to embrace the idea of being so candid, being so open, being so honest and just being in a lot of ways, being there in the moment, in the space … it’s terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure.”

One of the main strengths of Makin it Rain is its ability to open up conversations on a topic typically considered ‘taboo’. The audience reaction on opening night is always surprising. “I felt people actually… gasp, I felt people inhale,” Nicole says. Such responses have made her realise that she “shouldn’t shy away from being this real and honest.”

“If people are willing to be open and they’re willing to take something away, then that’s already enough for me.”

Nicole Henriksen is Makin it Rain runs from 29-30 January at the Pho Barn at Noodle Palace on Francis Street, Perth*. Tickets available via www.fringeworld.com.au

*Note: extra show dates may be added