Comedienne Shimmy Isaacs's autobiographical play has been chosen as a Baxter Theatre Best of Ikhwezi piece. 'Allie Pad Funny Worcester' plays at the Golden Acre Studio from May 25 to June 5. She chats to Marianne Thamm

How did you come to write and perform the piece?

I’ve been doing stand-up comedy for almost two years and I knew that I wanted to do a one-woman show. The challenge was shaping stand-up material into scenes and also telling a story. Most of the writing took place on the floor, where I just played with the material. Both Rob (van Vuuren, who directs) and I come from a physical theatre background and our main goal for this script was to have a one-person story. Scenes developed as we experimented and the play was born.

The press release says you explore Western Cape life through various cultures, ‘coloured, black and white’. Do you think race is still an issue and how do you make comedy of it?

I don’t think that race should be an issue, however, certain politicians in this country certainly remind us that it still is. We are just different as people and we all have our own way of life. South Africa is so rich in culture, and I choose to find comedy in our differences rather than skin colour.

Do you think different ‘cultural’ groups have different senses of humour?

Yes I do. However, I have to say that as a country, South Africa also has its own sense of humour. When you go abroad and meet other South Africans, only you understand the language of South African humour among each other. Whether you’re black, white or coloured has really nothing to do with it.

What was it like growing up as a funny woman ?

I was always a big teaser, but never thought that comedy would be one of my strongest qualities. I was a very serious acting student while I was at film school at AFDA (film and theatre school). But, however serious and disciplined I am about my education, I don’t think life should be that serious.

Yes, I come from difficult circumstances, but there was always laughter in our house. Comedy has the ability to make problems seem so small and just fade away.

Do you think women make comedy differently from men ?

I do think women make different comedy to men. We have different experiences, we perceive and feel differently about things. But I don’t think it’s harder for women to work the audience. There is definitely a stereotype around male comedians being able to talk about matters that women shouldn’t. If a woman makes sexual jokes, she’s frowned on, but if it’s a guy, he is cool. Generally I don’t like to think of myself as a woman in a man's world.

You say you ran away from Worcester ...

I love my home town. I’m proud to say that I left it with values and principles of life. But unfortunately there is no performance industry and no theatrical culture there. Even so, with the limited career choices, it still offered me lots of stories and it allowed me to dream beyond my circumstances.

What have you been doing since ?

I left home after matric. I started off doing odd jobs in the industry, as a fashion stylist and a vintage retailer. In 2003 I was granted a scholarship and went to AFDA’s film school where I graduated with honours. At the end of 2005 I left for New York where I did a three-month short course in acting at the Black Nexxus acting studio .

I returned to South Africa in mid 2006 and started lecturing at AFDA in the acting department, but I left in 2007 and started focusing more on writing and performing. The first successful play I produced, co-wrote and starred in was Dens Wit Me, which won the Best of Ikwezi Festival in 2009.

Which comedians do you enjoy?

I’m old school and all South African; I love Soli Philander, Tolla van der Merwe, Casper de Vries and Leon Schuster. And then there are the boys from Joe Barber — David Isaacs and Oscar Petersen.