Carol-Anne Croker Comedy For Change Interview

Carol-Anne Croker Comedy For Change Interview

Ten budding comedians will take to the stage for the first time, in a unique event that aims to break down the barriers and stigma associated with mental illness.

Supported by award-winning comic David Granirer, and Melbourne comedian Steve Bedwell, the WISE Stand up for Mental Health event will deliver a night of witty one-liners and inspiring stories.

This Melbourne first event is hosted by not for profit organisation WISE Employment in partnership with David Granirer who have together mentored a courageous group of people through their comedy school.

Comedy For Change
WISE Stand Up for Mental Health - a unique stand-up comedy event featuring a group of comedians who will make their stage debut, supported by international comedian David Granirer and guest appearance by Steve Bedwell.

When: Friday 25 October 2013, show starts 7pm
Where: Deakin Edge, Fed Square, Melbourne
Tickets: $16 each, available online at www.ticketmaster.com.au or call 136 100

Interview with Carol-Anne Croker

Question: What is WISE Stand Up for Mental Health?

Carol-Anne Croker: WISE Stand Up for Mental Health is a comedy school that empowers budding comedians with a mental illness to share their day to day experiences through the positive platform of stand-up comedy.

Not for profit organisation, WISE Employment has partnered with Canadian comedian David Granirer to bring his unique comedy school to Australia. Comedy is a powerful tool to raise awareness, increase understanding and help eradicate the stigma that people with mental illness often experience.


Question: What inspired you to get involved in the WISE Stand Up for Mental Health program?

Carol-Anne Croker: David Granirer's vision to break down the stigma that people with mental illness experience inspired me to come to the realisation that the most effective way to remove those barriers and break systemic discrimination in the workplace is through humour.

When I heard that this program was coming to Australia I jumped at the opportunity to get involved.


Question: Can you give us an insight into what we should expect from your unique stand-up act?

Carol-Anne Croker: At 57, I decided that this program would give me the opportunity to speak publicly about what it's like having Bipolar Affective Disorder.

When you are not svelte you have to get in first with the fat jokes so people will laugh with you and not at you.


Question: How do you hope to increase public awareness and understanding about mental illness?

Carol-Anne Croker: For the first time in my life, I will be standing in front of 500 people to present my stand-up act. It's a great platform to change the stigma that our society has towards people with mental illness.

Too often bipolar is associated with 'creative types", the celebrities with money to afford support networks and private clinics - but through WSMH I hope that people see that everyday ordinary people suffer the same illness. We might be living in your street and coping alone in shame.


Question: Is there a particular mental illness you'd like to create public awareness and understanding for?

Carol-Anne Croker: Bipolar Affective Disorder. The old manic depression is misleading as it infers to living only at the two extremes, or poles. All our moods exist on the continuum of normalcy, just sometimes we swing too high or dip too low and that's when we are in danger of self-harm.

And we need medication to help manage that swing either way. No one looks twice if someone with diabetes injects themselves with insulin at lunchtime, but if someone with bipolar admits to taking mood stabilisers or other medication we suddenly become a monster to fear and distrust.

Question: How has being a part of the six month comedy school program run by not for profit organisation WISE Employment helped you?

Carol-Anne Croker: I've been under extreme stress for seven years and desperately needed to do something creative. The comedy school has given me a chance to draw on my creativity, learn totally new skills and recharge my batteries before completing my PhD next year.

I've also made some lifelong friendships with people who I have a shared lived experience with. I'll be very sad if we drift apart - it will be like losing family.


Question: What's a typical day like, during the comedy school program?

Carol-Anne Croker: It can be an absolute laugh-a-minute. There are also moments where I catch myself on the verge of tears because I'm watching perhaps some of our most fearful and introverted comics at the start of the school who have now blossomed and developed self confidence – it's inspiring and humbling to watch their journey because of the trust we all have in the room. I go home on a buzz.


Question: What have you learnt from this experience?

Carol-Anne Croker: I've learnt a new writing craft that is misunderstand and hard to do – and an amazing professional and emotional challenge. I'm now intending to use comedy every time I take to a public stage to lecture on mental illness. I'm avoiding death by powerpoint!


Question: Why is it important for you to share your story and personal experience of bipolar?

Carol-Anne Croker: I see a lot of women in hospital that go through cycles of despair and shame that have followed a suicide attempt. They undertake intense emotional work to get out of hospital but often the circumstances that got them there in the first place will see them return over and over again. I want to help stop this cycle and save one life.


Question: How did you find the courage to share your story on stage?
Carol-Anne Croker: It wasn't courage but anger. I'm sick of being judged on my disability instead of my capacities and abilities which are often highly valued when I'm not under too much stress and succumb to my own illness.


Question: What's next for you?

Carol-Anne Croker: As part of my PhD, I'm writing a novel called 'Walking with Madness" which shows the lives of three women with undiagnosed mental illness. I'm also applying for a literary grant next year to write my own story for a one-women production for the stage.

I pray that I am also going to keep in touch with my new lifelong friends from WSMH.


Interview by Brooke Hunter