Becky Lucas On Why She's Conflicted About Liking Chris Brown

There's a hell of a lot going on in Becky Lucas's head, but fortunately, she has plenty of avenues to channel her multitude of musings. In addition to her stand-up appearances, she is also an ardent tweeter and even publishes a regular newsletter where her fans can delve into her various ruminations on life, the universe and everything.

But with so many neurones firing, her various trains of thought don't always run on the same tracks. Take, for example, a favourite earworm the comedian recently waxed lyrical about on Twitter - Chris Brown's Loyal. "I think it's a solid song with a cool beat. Obviously, I'm not a fan of Chris Brown's other pursuits, but I can't fault that sound, although it really puts me at odds with the feminist beliefs," she admits. "But come on! Have you heard it? It's catchy as hell!"

A similar Doctor Jekyll vs Mrs Hyde duality is on full display in Lucas's latest show, Little Bitch, which is not so much a stream of consciousness as it is a torrent of imagination. "It's just a bunch of insane, awful thoughts that I've somehow arranged into a show! I like to think of it as an hour that will make you laugh and feel less alone," she explains, adding with a mischievous smirk, "It's not for everyone, that's for sure."

It should come as no surprise to those familiar with Lucas's comedy that she is the proud owner of a rebellious streak. The road less travelled is comfortable territory for her. "When I was developing this show my management organised a few trial shows for me, where they gave the audience feedback forms to fill out," she recalls. "One man had just written that I looked much better with my hair down - I've been wearing it in a ponytail ever since, just to piss him off."

That's not to say Lucas doesn't care about her audience's reaction. Through her prolific online activity, both on Twitter and through her newsletter, she has found a trusted method of test driving material to see if it cuts the mustard before bringing it to the stage. "It's a much less ego-destroying way of getting feedback from an audience, as opposed to trying out a story at an open mic and getting no laughs and feeling like a loser idiot who should just quit," she candidly offers.

This acknowledgment of vulnerability is perhaps the X-factor that makes Lucas such an endearing performer; she may be complex and even surreal, but everything she presents comes from the heart: "Too many people try and be clever and make pithy, political jokes. For me, comedy is about creating a vibe that people want to tune into."

Becky Lucas presents Little Bitch 17 — 21 May at Enmore Theatre, part of Sydney Comedy Festival