‘Relatable content’ is the buzzword marketing strategy of just about every social media star and wannabe comedian looking to win over new audiences.
Not so for Russian-British standup Olga Koch.
The child of a former Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Koch’s lavish start in life pits her somewhat at odds with many of her cash-strapped peers in the stand-up comedy circuit – but at least she’s aware of it.
Marketed as a piss-take of the sort of opulence slathered across our screens in The White Lotus and Succession, new comedy show Olga Koch Comes from Money promises audiences “another little white bitch you will love to hate”.
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Your dad is the former Deputy Prime Minister of Russia. This is not usually the kind of background that spawns a career in standup comedy. Why do you think your career pathway has diverged so starkly from that of your father’s?
I actually think our careers are very similar. Politicians and comedians both tell lies into microphones for the approval of complete strangers. In that way, I am my father’s daughter. Fundamentally, every little girl dreams of being Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and I hope there’s still time for me.
You have lived in the US and the UK. I grew up in England as well, so I can understand some of that country’s uniquely dry sense of humour. How have you moulded your comedy after living in countries that have fairly strong differences in their comedic style? Is your style of standup more US- or UK-centric?
Not to brag, but nothing about me has ever been described as “uniquely dry” and I intend to keep it that way. From a comedy perspective, living in different countries has given me the opportunity to approach any culture as an outsider, and that point of view has been my most valuable writing tool. That being said, I don’t really think it matters where you come from – I have performed comedy everywhere from Japan to India to Norway and people from all across the globe feel equally comfortable laughing at me.
What can you tell us about your upcoming show, Olga Koch Comes from Money, and what do you want audiences to take away from watching it?
I’d say it does everything that it says on the tin (or your money back). Look, I’ve written six standup shows and addressed every taboo in the book: age gaps, ass-eating, male pattern baldness. It’s time wealth got a taste of Koch.
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Melbourne is in the midst of a notable housing crisis, and wealth disparity is something of a sharp issue here. How are you feeling about performing a show about experiences of wealth, in a city with a substantial left-leaning populace such as Melbourne?
Oh my god, do you think my show is right-wing?? In all seriousness, transparency when it comes to money is more important now than ever. Privileged people like me can’t avoid the issue out of discomfort and “politeness”. I don’t think my show exists in opposition to Melbourne’s substantial left-leaning populace, but I suppose you’ll have to see it to believe it.
What do you like about audiences of Australian comedy shows, and what has drawn you to perform here in Australia? How does your experience in Australia differ, say, from performing in Edinburgh?
I’ve always loved Australian live comedy because the performers are never afraid of being weird and experimental. I think generally Australian audiences are more open-minded and ready to see something new and something different. That being said, they’re also way more open about telling you that you’re not their cup of tea. But hey, negging has always worked on me.
Melbournians will be free to judge for themselves this coming March, as Olga performs her now show at the Melbourne International Comedy, in the Melbourne Town Hall’s Backstage Room.
This article was made in partnership with Century.
