Super Mum Amelia Ryan is Returning to Adelaide Fringe with Two More Must-See Shows
Simply The Breast and 80’s Baby are two shows any comedy loving parent must-see at this year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Buckle up those baby seats and enjoy the ride as Amelia Ryan, cabaret’s princess of parody takes you on an honest journey of comic relief, through childhood and motherhood.
After selling out houses with ‘The Breast Is Yet To Come’, ‘A Storm in A D Cup’ and ‘Lady Liberty, Livvy & Pete’ Amelia is returning to Adelaide Fringe with all the best (breast) bits from all of them.
We chatted to Amelia to see what she has been up to since last year and what we can expect this time around:
It’s been a year since we last spoke to you, tell us about your new tour:
I’ve got two new shows under my belt this year. For the Mama’s (and brave Dads),
I’ve got ‘Simply The Breast’; a ‘best of’ featuring my favourite bits from all of my shows to date. It’s a good way to get the highlights reel, plus I’ve snuck a bunch of new motherhood material in for good measure (because let’s face it, motherhood dishes out the comedy gold!).
I’m also really excited because this year, I’ve created a show for the kids! I wanted to do something I could take my 15 month old son Archie along to, so I’ve put together a singalong, dance-along show called 80s Baby! It features (you guessed it) all of the hits we danced along to back in the 80s. From WHAM! to Kylie Minogue, to Aussie favorites Peter Coombe, Don Spencer and the Tinlids. I’ve got a 3 piece band on stage with me, so it’s a great live music experience for the little ones, and it really is a joy to perform because the music is so fun! So wear your colourful 80s best and bring your dancing shoes, because you’ll be on your feet from start to finish!
What can we expect this year that we didn’t see last year?
Last years show was all about pregnancy…the good, bad and downright painful.
This year, I’m taking my favourite bits from all of my shows, and sharing the full story; from childhood to motherhood. You’ll hear stories ranging from exotic dancing on table tops to exhaustedly cleaning up foods slops, from sordid Las Vegas romps, to sleepy late-night lactation, from growing up in a very ‘modern family’ to settling down and creating my own family. It’s an honest, relatable and hilarious celebration of womanhood and the constant quest for self-betterment. Basically if you’ve ever made questionable choices during #winetime, have a family that’s more ‘Kardashian’ then Brady Bunch, or lay awake at night wondering WTF has happened to your boobs (or pelvic floor) post-children (honestly though, where do they go?), then this one’s for you!
How has mum life been treating you?
I love Mum life. Though it’s completely exhausting and consuming, it keeps me present and grounded and the love is unparalleled What I find most difficult however, is combining Mum life with actual life. As Archie gets older, and his needs are greater (food, routine, stimulation, stability etc), I’ve had to reassess what we can all manage. I found it easier when he was younger and all he needed was a boob and a bed! I’ve really struggled with the balance over the past 6 months if I’m honest, but that’s motherhood, right? A constant learning curve.
Is your bubs coming touring with you this time?
I’ve had to make some fairly tough calls to leave Archie at home with his Dad this year. I head to Melbourne for 5 days next week, and then Perth for 7 days a few weeks later. The anxiety of leaving him is killing me! But, we have to prioritise both his needs for stability and my own mental health. Between the cost of touring the whole family and also premiering two new shows, we had to make the call for me to fly solo. It will either work or it won’t, and we’ll then be informed to make different decisions for next time. I’m learning that sometimes you can’t actual ‘do it all’!
What is the secret to juggling mum life and showbiz life?
Support, support, and support. I have a very supportive and understanding fiancé, and I’ve been extremely lucky that my Mum retired in 2017. She’s been able to tour with us, or come and stay when we’re in ‘peak season’. She lives in NSW, but comes over regularly. I NEVER take this for granted and am extremely grateful. We also have very supportive family and friends here in Adelaide. I write, perform and produce my own shows, so like many busy Mama’s, my day can start at 6am when Archie wakes and finish at 12am when I finish my daily to-do list. It’s a constant hustle that feels never ending. We also just need to be really organised (still working on this one) and actively schedule in times of the year where I won’t take on any gigs. The family needs some down time!
What are you most looking forward to at this year’s Adelaide Fringe?
Without a doubt being able to dress up in crazy 80s clothes! Oh…and giving the Mama’s a well deserved girls night out, with a wine and a good laugh during Simply The Breast.
Amelia has two shows at the Fringe – Simply The Breast and Amelia Ryan’s 80’s Baby – tickets are available at adelaidefringe.com.au
