If you’re into wild Irish women, dark humour, striptease, enchanting harmonies, vagina puppets and talk of dismantling the agricultural patriarchy, then The Wild Geeze are definitely for you!
Breda Larkin and Laura Lavelle have made a reputation for themselves as one of the most dynamic comedy duos in the country, and are a regular fixture at festivals like Electric Picnic and All Together Now.
Later this month, they're bring their unique brand of comedy, music and cabaret to at St Luke's, Cork on Saturday Sept 27th.
We asked Breda Larkin for her choice cultural picks...
FILM
Intermission by John Crowley is still a favourite Irish film. There is some great comedy in there. The characters are really well written, the script is brilliant, the acting fantastic and the use of Clannad's music is genius. It’s a film I’d watch every couple of months and enjoy every time. "Have I got a ronnie?".
That and Serial Mom by queer icon John Waters who famously used cabaret stars in his films.
We both love dark humour and this film has it in spade loads. Smart and twisted with some great lines that we still quote with each other.. "Are they pussy willows?!!"
MUSIC
We’re both big Dolly Parton fans and Laura saw her in concert at 12 years old and it definitely sparked her love for show business. Dolly is always so witty as well as talented, knows how to work a crowd and write a daycent tune.
Joan Armatrading is a firm favourite too. Her back catalog of songs is phenomenal, every tune is a banger! Her lyrics are pure poetry and universal in their theme so as a gay woman growing up I felt really drawn to her music, like she was telling our love stories.
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BOOK
We both enjoy reading Machán Magan’s books. His most recent, Focail na mBan, is a collection of women’s words for vulva, clitoris and menstruation. It details their origin in the language and is accompanied by beautiful prints by various artists such as Kiki na Art and Dee Mulroony. Manchán was inspired by our comedy song where we collected all the slang words people have for vulva and vagina and we’ve in turn penned a new tune entitled Amhrán na Gabhal!
THEATRE
She Stoops to Conquer is our favourite play. We’re both big fans of old comedy plays that have a social conscience. Oliver Goldsmith wrote really good plays and it's almost impossible to adapt this play badly! It has inspired so much comedy in the "mistaken identity" theme. The plot revolves around a series of misunderstandings, manipulations and deceptions, primarily orchestrated by Kate Hardcastle, who pretends to be the barmaid to test Charles Marlow's actual character. I love this play because there is a strong female lead and there is great comedy between her and her maid, whom she tried to learn from. It's a great role for funny women.
TV
Our recent favourite is Alma’s Not Normal written and starring Sohpie Willam. Sophie is very inspiring. This show started as a stand up show at the Edinburgh Fringe and was made into a comedy series. It’s about her life growing up in and out of care, again dark humour for the win. It’s so funny, honest and warm with the relationship with her dysfunctional family so deeply loving. The cast is just phenomenal. We both love raw authentic comedy, people that speak from the heart, warts and all. She is 100% herself and we love her for it!
GIG
Well not to blow our own trumpets here but the show we just put on in the Sugar Club this August was one of the best gigs ever! We decided to have a pageant show that showcases the alternative talent in Ireland. We called it "Hoes of Tralee" . It was so full of eclectic comedy and talent it was SO well received. We had 7 contestants and they all brought their A game! Collectively we blew the roof off the place. Even last year's contestants from the Rose of Tralee were there showing their support and having the craic. There were moments of gold with Killkenny taking the title with her pro wrestling talent "I’m going to beat the tar out of Conor McGregor!" and that she did!! The Wild Geeze shows never fail to entertain and we have a rolodex of talented cabaret acts to draw from.
ART
Simple art pieces say it all to be honest. A Palestine flag in someone’s window, colourful graffiti telling you to "Be the Change" and "Refugees Welcome" or murals of great female icons like St Bridget and Grainne Mhaol which injects the feminine presence into spaces that mostly celebrate males. Both women were unmarried and strong leaders which indicates queerness on some level and that is inspiring. We want to see more female statues and for them not to be groped! One of our favourite artists at the moment is Dee Mulroney, her brave and unapologetic renditions of Irish icons and history or incredibly touching and moving. Also Kiki Na Art & St Diabhal have that edgy colourful modern take on pagan Ireland with a sultry powerful feminist edge that we love.
PODCAST
We both listen to I’m Grand Mam - queer Cork icons! We are looking forward to chatting with them at the Gala Awards in October as we are nominated in the Arts & Entertainment category. We have our own podcast since lockdown, The Wild Geeze Podcast, it’s just the pair of us shooting the breeze, chalk and cheese witty craic. We’re definitely drawn to a duo or a trio doing the same. Keeping it Tight is great banter, we are big fans of Deirdre and Emma, as well as The Creep Dive and Your Internet Boyfriends.
We also love UCC podcast Rí Ra Mná where Sinead Moynihan talks about everything from childrearing to planet caring with an array of female voices.
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TECH
I guess I do like my laptop but we’re both not tech heads. The world leaders constantly say technology and innovation will get us out of the climate crisis but I think it’s humans coming together in community, especially the farming community that will do it. There’s no better technology than mother nature so we’d be better off tuning into that than getting a smart house, sure what if you have a toothache one day and can't talk properly... You’d be locked out of your house!
We’re Wild Eco-feminists who say let your lawn grow wild, buy local and get back to nature!
THE NEXT BIG THING...
Sexy Tadhg! They are a singer songwriter from Carlow who recently supported The Mary Wallopers on tour. An incredible voice and just a fabulous person. Again another queer performer from our rolodex. The new wave of Irish performers and singers are political because you have to be. You cannot tap into your Art unless you are sensitively aware of what is happening around you. Human rights are under threat. Fascism is on the rise. Biodiversity loss is real. Artists have always stood up for the voiceless and shone a light of hope and resistance. Let’s keep supporting artists to create a better world for us all - "March in my parade" as Sexy Tadhg says!
The Wild Geeze are live at St Luke's, Cork on Saturday Sept 27th - find out more here
