Melbourne stand-up comedian Kimmie Lovegrove grew up believing she was from a Sri Lankan background because that was her step-father's heritage. She eventually learned she was Aboriginal - from the Ngarrindjeri nation in South Australia.
"She didn’t know a lot about the Aboriginal culture," Lovegrove says of her mother.
"She didn’t really know how to bring up an Aboriginal child, so instead of telling me the truth, she thought it was best to make me believe I was a part of another culture."
Lovegrove has since made peace with what happened and the story is now part of her comedy act. She believes Indigenous comedians thrive on stage because of their natural storytelling abilities.
Kimmie Lovegrove on stage at Deadly Funny. Source: SBS
"We are very upfront and honest and, you know, we get straight to the point," she says.
"I think the way we handle ourselves when it comes to racism and systematic oppression, and all these negative things, we are actually able to bring a light side to something so dark."
Lovegrove founded Deadly Comedy in 2018 - a follow-up comedy show for alumni performers from the national First Nations comedy competition Deadly Funny.
She first entered Deadly Funny in 2014 and says the additional platform gives comedians an opportunity to perform to a wider audience.
Now in its 15th year, the competition has seen the likes of Steph Tisdell, Kevin Kropinyeri, Andy Saunders, Shiralee Hood and Sean Choolburra become participants and mentors on the program.
Deadly Funny workshops are now up and running again following disruptions in the industry last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kimmie Lovegrove in Northcote, Melbourne. Source: SBS News
Its national grand final will form part of the line-up for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, which begins on 24 March.
Indigenous comedian Dane Simpson says despite the recent setbacks in the arts industry, the appetite for First Nations comedy is growing.
"The audiences are having a really good time," he says.
"They’re coming to watch a fresh take, or even, I suppose, a brand of the oldest comedy - that’s pretty cool."
Simpson has been hosting and mentoring with Deadly Funny and says the breadth of acts is also growing.
"People are doing sketches, people are doing dances ... it’s not just straight stand-up anymore."
Lovegrove says the Deadly Comedy and Deadly Funny platforms have been an important way to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders find their unique voice, including her.
"This is my unique story; I’m not copying anyone," she says.
"Someone’s called me 'the geek chic Rebel Wilson', and that’s nice, but you know, it’s not Kimmie."
"I want to create my own little genre."
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival takes place 24 March-18 April, with the Deadly Funny National Grand Final on 17 April.
