Kate Hanley Corley didn’t take the usual route to a career of comedy, if such a thing exists.
Born and raised in Geelong, Hanley Corley had what she described as an “idyllic childhood”, one characterised by freedom and adventure.
After completing high school she found herself enrolled in a journalism course at Deakin University, the first of her unexpected career developments.
“I got into electrical engineering… but I thought, there’s no way I’m going down that path,” Hanley Corley said.
“The people in the hall when I was enrolling said what about journalism? That sounded really fun because every day is different and I love talking to people.”
After uni she relocated to Melbourne, working as a luxury handbag salesperson before entering the world of newspaper journalism, then eventually transitioning to the script department for shows such as Blue Heelers and City Homicide.
After taking some time off to raise a family, Hanley Corley found herself faced with something of an identity crisis.
“I was a stay-at-home mum and I was feeling very, very uninteresting,” she said.
“I felt like I had nothing to talk about at dinner parties except for my children. I thought, I’ve really got to do something radical to get myself out of this funk.
“My girlfriends said, why don’t you try some comedy? And I thought, okay, I’ll give it a go… if no one laughs I’ll give it up. And that was 13 years ago.”
Entering the world of comedy had its challenges. A 37-year-old mother of three among a sea of “guys in their early 20s doing dick jokes”, Hanley Corley nevertheless carved a respected place for herself in the scene.
Returning regularly to Geelong over past years, Hanley Corley brings new show Sex, Uggs & Muffintops to the Geelong Comedy Festival this November.
“This new show is particularly naughty, so guys love it while mothers and middle-aged women relate,” she said.
“It’s very musical… I have always really loved Bill Bailey and Flight of the Conchords, so it’s like musical comedy and stand-up.
“A lot of it is absurd, I just love making people belly laugh. That’s where I get a great deal of satisfaction, because I think laughing is such an integral need for humans to be healthy. It really does bring people together.”
Kate Hanley Corley is at Beav’s Bar on Sunday, November 3. Visit geelongcomedyfestival.com.au for tickets and more information.
