Stand-up comedian Allyson June Smith has told stories on stages around the world – far from the Calgary comedy clubs where she first got her funny feet wet.
And while the scenery may change from gig to gig, she said she has learned there are many other details that make us, really, all the same.
“The more I get to travel, it really makes you realize what is universal about us all: love, relationships, family, friendships,” said Smith, who has performed in Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and all through Europe and the United States.
“I can joke about a lot of the same things when I am in Doha (in Qatar) or Cambodia that I can at home.”
While Smith now lives in the United Kingdom, home is where she’ll be this weekend when she performs a set of shows in Calgary – as well as one in Cochrane on Sunday night at Townhall Public House in Sunset Ridge.
She said she’s excited to be able to make jokes about her time at University of Lethbridge or growing up in Cowtown to an audience who will understand the context.
“Because I’m an Alberta girl … It’s always a treat to talk about my experiences. I will probably touch base on all the things I love,” said Smith, adding she’s staying with her parents, so they’ll also form the basis of a few jabs.
“At this point in my life, I feel like I’m raising my parents … there’ll probably be some jokes.”Smith’s style of comedy draws more on her personal life and she urges her sets are usually not politically motivated. Yet she said, no matter where she is in the world, it’s definitely an interesting time to be a comedian.
“We’ve got (U.S. President Donald) Trump, and, where I am, we’ve got Brexit. What we’re going to see is an ever-stronger need for comedy over the next little while,” she said. “We can say things or point things out that maybe people don’t want to get into or feel that their voice won’t be heard. It’s kind of our job to constantly be looking at these things going on.”
Promoter Jake Hirsch said Smith headlines an evening of four comics for more than 90 minutes of solid comedy.
He added he’s thrilled to be able to bring a comedian of Smith’s calibre to the Cochrane stage.
“She’s definitely … a world-class headliner. Allyson really reaches out to a wide audience … her comedy resonates with every crowd she goes in front of. It’s always a home run,” said Hirsch. “I couldn’t pass up her being in town and not taking advantage of it.”
For Smith’s part, she’s also glad to be able to do what she loves best in her own backyard.
“The more you travel the more you begin to realize the wonderful things about home,” she said.
“The further you go, the more you realize the importance of where you came from.”
