Melbourne International Comedy Festival Focus: Natalie Harris

Show title: Good Grief

Briefly describe your show: My show is based on the five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance - the gang's all here! It's funny, I promise.

What was the inspiration behind your show? The show was inspired by my personal experiences after my dad died five years ago.

Besides making people laugh, what else do you hope people get from your show? I think there is a huge awkwardness around death, a taboo even. So maybe if audience members have experienced grief, [it might be] slightly therapeutic to be open with it and laugh.

What was the biggest challenge you encountered while writing your show? Spilling tea on my laptop and contemplating the ramifications if the computer was not to come back to life. Things got dark. My neighbours got a real show.

What's a ridiculous situation you've been in that you got a joke from? I have fallen out of a car, I have also been hit by a car. My life is one big joke. I'm set.

What was the last thing that had you in side-splitting laughter? Watching my mum type ALWAYS cracks me up. She types with one finger.

What other comedians are you excited to check out at the Festival? Laura Dunemann and Kate Denhert.