This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:04] Ally Morgan: I think the main way to make climate action happen is to just get comfortable with talking about the uncomfortable subject that it exists.

[0:12] Justin Clarke: Yeah.

[0:12] Ally Morgan: And um and not even try and fix it, but just like get through the first hurdle of just like bringing it up.

[0:18] Justin Clarke: Yeah.

[0:18] Ally Morgan: And so and not in like a dim gl-like, you know, you can have nuance to the conversation, which is like, yeah, like, you know, how do you feel about it?

[0:27] Justin Clarke: Um that's a bad example.

[0:30] Ally Morgan: Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so I was just like, when I finally started writing the script, I was like, for for Not Today, I was like, well, if I can be the person who helps people who are struggling to articulate their anxieties. If this gives them the words that they were looking for through this script and through this play, then that will have been worth it.

[0:53] Justin Clarke: You're listening to the Theatre Thoughts Podcast. My name's Justin, or you can call me Stin. If this is your first time listening to the podcast, welcome. If you're one of our many loyal listeners, welcome back. We are back with a new episode of the podcast, and this time we feature our first in-studio guest, the talented Ally Morgan. Ally brought her one-woman show Not Today to the Sydney Fringe Festival to stellar reviews and nominations. Ally sits down in our Powerhouse Museum studio to discuss climate change activism, how lockdown forced her to be creative, and how this eventually led her to writing her own one-woman show. We also have the return of our new favorite game, One Minute Theatre Thoughts, and Ally also performs one of her songs from Not Today just for the podcast.

Don't forget, you can find all our episode information on our dedicated podcast site. Follow the link in this episode's description or follow us on Instagram at Theatre Thoughts AUS, as well as our YouTube channel. So get ready to once again switch on those thoughts and delve into the world of the Theatre Thoughts Podcast.

[2:06] Justin Clarke: Welcome to a new episode of the Theatre Thoughts Podcast. We have a first day. We have our first guest in studio, which I'm very, very excited about. We have a skilled actor, writer, musician, and producer who graduated from NIDA's Screen Acting Studio in 2014 and the Actors Centre Australia in 2017. She has produced and starred in her own short film, Her Own Music, which premiered at the 2020 Sydney Fringe Festival and the Outfest LA in 2020. Her music has appeared on Triple J Unearthed and has independently released singles as well as written for television with two TV series in development, and they're currently performing their show Not Today for the Sydney Fringe Festival. Please welcome Ally Morgan.

[2:49] Ally Morgan: Hello.

[2:50] Justin Clarke: It's so great to have you actually, and I can actually see you and talk to you. This is so surreal. You're a real person.

[2:56] Ally Morgan: I know. I'm so used to everything via Zoom.

[2:58] Justin Clarke: Yeah, sure.

[2:59] Ally Morgan: Yeah, thanks for having me.

[3:00] Justin Clarke: No, thank you for coming in. Um, so we're gonna hear you perform some of your songs, which I'm very excited about.

[3:05] Ally Morgan: Yes, me too.

[3:07] Justin Clarke: Yeah. Um, and you're performing Not Today at the Fringe Festival in Sydney. So we'll get to that in a sec.

[3:12] Ally Morgan: Okay.

[3:14] Justin Clarke: Um, but let's hear about you, because you're um relatively new in my sphere. I've kind of seen your images pop up when the Sydney Fringe was coming around. I was like, that looks interesting. Um, and like I was saying before, our reviewer came to see the other night, she loved it. So just tell us a bit about yourself.

[3:31] Ally Morgan: Um, well, yeah, I grew up in Sydney, so I've been bopping around here my whole life. Should probably leave at some point. Um, but that's another story. Um, so yeah, I'm I'm like I grew up always performing and left high school and was like, I'm gonna be an actor.

[3:48] Justin Clarke: Yeah.

[3:49] Ally Morgan: And then uh did the whole acting school thing, and then was like, wow, I really don't love all of these roles. Or like just like wasn't anything that I was like, yes, I'm so excited to play this. Also, so hard for anyone to even see me for audition. So I was like, Right. It was just so hard to like n try to knock knock knock on doors and like you know, so I was like, all right, well, um, I kind of did the maths and I traced it back. I was like, well, if the actor is at the end of the like process, who is at the start? And I was like, oh, the writer. Okay, so like no one has any work unless the writer is there. And so then I was like, oh well, actors know how to write, like we interpret scripts, that's literally our job.

So I was like, I should be able to write some scripts. And so from there I just started writing and making my own work and like making short films with people I went to acting school with, and they went really well. Um I was always a songwriter as a kid, and then I picked up that as well after drama school. It's it's funny, like as soon as I let go of the idea of having to be an actor, like one thing, just all of my passions kind of found a way to all work together. So it's kind of ended me up here. Um making one-woman shows with songs and writing them and acting in them, and yeah.

[5:08] Justin Clarke: That's awesome. It's so funny, isn't it, when you trace everything back and you go, like, because I kind of did the same thing. I did the whole acting school and I was gonna be a big actor.

[5:17] Ally Morgan: Yeah.

[5:17] Justin Clarke: I did like my foxtail commercial, which is my big break.

[5:20] Ally Morgan: Oh my god.

[5:20] Justin Clarke: I was like, oh my god. Um and then I was like, you know what? I'm not gonna get any money as an actor. What am I gonna do instead? Um so then it leads you on different paths, and it's crazy to see you know where things take you.

[5:33] Ally Morgan: Yeah, and like it's not like I think I also had that mentality of um if I do anything else, then it will it'll take away from my acting, but actually everything just enriches my acting, or you know, it's always there, I can always come back to it, you know, and so yeah, it's been really empowering just embracing all the all the multidisciplinary things. I think that's the one that's one word that our uh tutors love to instill in us multi-disciplinary artists um yeah, and it's so easy to say. I love that word anyway.

[6:03] Justin Clarke: It's a good tongue twister to warm me up on, isn't it?

[6:08] Ally Morgan: Exactly. Anyway, I won't bore you with my tongue twisters now. Um but I know so many because I went to drama school.

[6:15] Justin Clarke: Oh my god, I might have to pop that on my um my game list later. I love hearing everyone's stories when it comes to people on the podcast because everyone's everyone kind of a lot of performers they kind of follow the same route, which I like, but then it's after that acting school part where they diverge.

[6:32] Ally Morgan: Yeah, totally.

[6:33] Justin Clarke: And then it's where do they go? Do they go overseas? Do they go to London? Do they do Disney parks cruises? Do they go down to Melbourne? Do they continue training? So where so we've kind of touched on that for you, but you ended up in Melbourne during the 2020 lockdown and 2021 lockdown, right?

[6:52] Ally Morgan: No, I was in Sydney.

[6:53] Justin Clarke: Oh, you were in Sydney, okay.

[6:54] Ally Morgan: But I went to Melbourne for the show. Maybe that's where you got Melbourne.

[6:57] Justin Clarke: That might have been where I got mixed up. But you were in lockdown when you wrote Not Today, is that correct?

[7:02] Ally Morgan: Yeah, I I didn't realize I was writing Not Today, though. I I was writing songs, and so I didn't realize what that would become.

[7:10] Justin Clarke: Okay.

[7:11] Ally Morgan: But yeah, I was basically just feeling a whole bunch of anxiety, and I yeah, started writing songs to get my anxiety out of my brain. And um, and then it wasn't until Miranda Middleton, the director of Not Today, was like, Have you ever thought about writing a one-woman show that I was like, Oh, that totally makes sense. And then I kind of retrofitted the songs to fit the narrative. Although they they naturally do have um they kind of they they unfold in the order that I wrote them. Oh ironically, because they kind of track my mental health process in that time.

[7:48] Justin Clarke: So you it's a weird time, wasn't it?

[7:51] Ally Morgan: Very weird, yeah, very strange. I I remember I was living in Wollongong um at the time, and it was actually quite good in a way because I could like walk to the beach and I was like, oh perfect, amazing.

[8:02] Justin Clarke: So nice.

[8:02] Ally Morgan: Um, but it was and I always think back on it, it was like such a weird time. Um it was so weird. It was also weirdly like the most creative I've ever been, I think, because I fought I was forced to just like entertain myself. Yeah, and also like I was doing it with no actual like outcome in mind. I was just doing it to to have fun, be happy, stay present. And so it's kind of ironic that that worked. That was actually a really good thing to do.

[8:30] Justin Clarke: Yeah, I mean, mindfulness works.

[8:32] Ally Morgan: Whoa, and I think that actually on that point, that was probably like ironically the healthiest I've been in my mental health.

[8:40] Justin Clarke: I know me too.

[8:41] Ally Morgan: Because I f I had to, I had to focus on it, you know. It was like everyone was saying, You have to focus on your mental health during this time. Because I lived alone as well.

[8:49] Justin Clarke: Oh my gosh.

[8:50] Ally Morgan: So I was like really focusing on my mental health, and then ever since then, like it's kind of spiraled a bit because we're back to normal.

[8:58] Justin Clarke: And you don't have time to focus on my mental health.

[9:01] Ally Morgan: Yep.

[9:01] Justin Clarke: Um I feel that.

[9:02] Ally Morgan: Yeah, it's weird.

[9:03] Justin Clarke: I was also like so. I I've always been like, I want to become a yogi. Like I've always loved yoga. I did so much yoga.

[9:11] Ally Morgan: So did I.

[9:11] Justin Clarke: Did you have a YouTube that you followed?

[9:14] Ally Morgan: Yeah, yoga with Adrian.

[9:16] Justin Clarke: With Adrian, nah, no, I had um I I don't know if her name was Allie. Something's telling me her name was Allie, but it was uh yoga with some American woman.

[9:23] Ally Morgan: It has to be Adrian.

[9:25] Justin Clarke: Might have been Adrian.

[9:26] Ally Morgan: I don't know.

[9:26] Justin Clarke: Was it like 30 days of yoga?

[9:28] Ally Morgan: Yeah.

[9:28] Justin Clarke: Oh my gosh.

[9:29] Ally Morgan: That's Adrian.

[9:30] Justin Clarke: All the yoga with Adrian fans are gonna be.

[9:32] Ally Morgan: Yes.

[9:33] Justin Clarke: So I did that. I did that.

[9:34] Ally Morgan: Yeah, she's the best.

[9:35] Justin Clarke: Isn't she so nice?

[9:36] Ally Morgan: I feel like she's my best friend.

[9:38] Justin Clarke: I have never met her.

[9:39] Ally Morgan: It was such a nice way to wake up in the morning.

[9:41] Justin Clarke: Yeah, and she's so funny. She's like, you know, whenever she has like innuendo in her stretches, she's like, hey, you know, like all that's happening, like, yes, I live for it.

[9:51] Ally Morgan: Yeah, she was good. But um and the main message I want to take out of this is everyone, everyone please take care of your mental health. It's very important.

[9:58] Justin Clarke: Indeed.

[9:59] Ally Morgan: I'm a big advocate for it. But on the note where the songs came from, um, the marriage very much focused on climate change. Is that correct?

[10:07] Justin Clarke: So I'm assuming you're a big advocate on climate change. There's a lot going on in the, you know, the zeitgeist in the world and our discussions on climate change, which is great that we're focusing on that.

[10:18] Ally Morgan: Totally.

[10:19] Justin Clarke: Um the Triple J podcast has dropped, uh, Who's Going to Save Us?

[10:23] Ally Morgan: Oh.

[10:23] Justin Clarke: Which focuses on climate change.

[10:25] Ally Morgan: Oh my gosh, that's awesome.

[10:26] Justin Clarke: Yeah, yeah, it's very good. I key like little snippets because I've like ironically, during lockdown, I just became a Triple J person.

[10:33] Ally Morgan: Oh, I don't know why. But I did.

[10:35] Justin Clarke: Good time. Yeah. For it?

[10:36] Ally Morgan: Well, it was great.

[10:37] Justin Clarke: That's good. Um, but where did where did this like idea come from for you?

[10:43] Ally Morgan: Um I mean, well, I've always like, where did the activism come from?

[10:50] Justin Clarke: Yeah, yeah, and the kind of um like climate change.

[10:53] Ally Morgan: So obviously there's so much in the world that we can pinpoint our concerns for. Why did climate change come to the forefront for you?

[11:00] Ally Morgan: Well, I think it was honestly um I've I've always been kind of nervous about it, I think. Ever since I remember having a massive epiphany in 2016, being like, wait, wait, that like this is the this is like a real thing. Cause I especially in Australia, we were debating whether or not it was real for like way too like and still are to be honest. Um like for way too long. And so when my little 2016 year old brain was like, Are you this is for real Zees? I was like, holy shit, why are we not more concerned?

[11:28] Justin Clarke: Yeah.

[11:29] Ally Morgan: This is like an existential like this is bad. Yeah. And so I've always been like, we're gonna talk about this at some point, right? And then I just thought it was really weird that no one was not at least in the mainstream, no one was talking about it. Like if and if we're gonna tackle it, we're gonna have to like put our heads together as a big community. So I was like, surely we've gotta like get this a cooking. Yeah, get this conversation a rollin'.

[11:54] Ally Morgan: Um, but I kind of realized that I think that everyone's really anxious about talking about it.

[12:00] Justin Clarke: Yeah, I think that's it, isn't it?

[12:01] Ally Morgan: Some people think that they can't talk about it unless they know everything about it, or um, yeah, that that like what can they offer to the conversation? But I think it's really helpful because no one at all was talking about it. I started feeling like I was like crazy. I was like, Am I the am I am I too concerned? Like, am I becoming irrational or paranoid? Uh like I don't know how to gauge how freaked out I should be. And then I would talk to my parents and I'd be like, like my mum, love her. Oh gosh, she's gonna listen to this. Um, but I was like, Mom, I just listened to Greta Thunberg's um like podcast on climate change and I'm freaked out.

[12:38] Ally Morgan: And instead of mom being like, "Yeah, climate change is a real issue and that sucks," she was like, "Well, why are you listening to the podcast then, Allie? You're just gonna make yourself feel more anxious." And I was like, "Wait, you're telling me that in order to cure my anxiety, I just have to pretend like this isn't happening?" And I was like, "There must be a better way to talk about this." And so I basically, yeah, I basically was like, "I think the main way to make climate action happen is to just get comfortable with talking about the uncomfortable subject that it exists." Yeah, and um, and not even try and fix it, but just like get through the first hurdle of just like bringing it up.

Yeah, and so um, and not in like a doom-gl-like, you know, you can have nuance of the conversation, which is like, "Yeah, like, you know, how do you feel about it?" Um, nothing's a little about that's a bad example. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so I was just like, if I can be when I finally started writing the script, I was like, for Not Today, I was like, "Well, if I can be the person who helps people who are struggling to articulate their anxieties, um, if this gives them the words that they were looking for through this script and through this play, then that will have been worth it."

[13:55] Justin Clarke: Yeah, I like that. Because I think it's hard to just articulate sometimes.

[13:58] Ally Morgan: It is, and I feel like it was something you said about like where it like back in 2016 when you didn't even think about it. When I think about climate change and its revolution in terms of like my sphere of the world, like it started as global warming. Well, no, actually before that, it was like, "Oh, that hole in the ozone layer is getting quite big." And then like, what does that even mean? Um, then it was global warming, and then it was like made popular in film with like The Day After Tomorrow. I was like, "Oh my god, global warming?" That's always what I think about when I think about global. I'm always like, "Ali, you don't even live in New York. Like, that's not what it's gonna be like for you."

I mean, it might be anyway. Yeah, but yeah, I don't know, it scared the hell out of me. I know that's and then it shaped it into c like everyone going, "Oh, things aren't getting warmer, they're getting colder. Where's this global warming?" And then um, and then it shifted into climate change. And um, now it's at the forefront of a lot of people's conversations.

[14:48] Justin Clarke: Yeah, definitely. And I think you're right that it is hard to talk about because I mean I like when I bring it up, I go, "What can I do? You know, when China's pumping out this and America's doing that, like I'm just one man, so why even bother?" Um, so I feel like that's the hurdle that you need to get over is the what's the how do I word it? Like the care or like the oh, yeah, just like dare to think, yeah, dare to care, maybe a little and like it does, I like it does feel like you have to take a risk in caring because you kind of have to bet on that the fact that it might actually we might be alright. And that's actually hard to do, you know, to be hopeful is actually really hard.

[15:29] Ally Morgan: Yeah. Um, and that's what I try to be like daringly hopeful about it all and like optimistic about the impact I can make. Although I'm not an advocate for um making you carry all the guilt of like everything ever. So like to be honest, I cannot buy single-use plastic or Coca-Cola can just stop making single-use plastic. Like, I think that companies have I'm alm on my soapboxy here, but I do think that companies have like made um it was quite popular about like individual choice. Like your dollar is you vote with your dollar, and I'm like, that's all well and good if um you have the privilege to spend dollars on like maybe more ex like harder to access, like slightly more eco-friendly choices, but a lot of people don't have access to those choices. So again, you're like you're kind of equating like people with less money who can't afford to make like eco-conscious choices, you're making them seem evil, and they're not so like you know that whole thing.

[16:25] Justin Clarke: So um, why did I start talking about that? Um basically, yeah, you can make a difference as an individual, but I think it's all about rallying together.

[16:33] Ally Morgan: It is, yeah, yeah. And I think it's about like this is turning into a whole climate change discussion.

[16:39] Justin Clarke: It's great.

[16:40] Ally Morgan: No, it's great. I know I walk into a room and I'm like, "Sorry, I have a show."

[16:44] Justin Clarke: Yeah, here I go.

[16:45] Ally Morgan: No, but I think it is, and it is about like caring and wanting to bring up that conversation and at least talk about it because it is concerning, and I think like even in just the world, I think, you know, like my parents and so on, like the massive effects are only starting to hit, and it's like towards like the later parts of their life.

[17:04] Justin Clarke: I know, I think about that too.

[17:06] Ally Morgan: Yeah, and what will I be when I'm their age? Like, will it be better? Will it be worse? And yeah, and I always see those memes pop up, and it's like, "What's the worst thing that can come out of um working towards bettering climate change, like a healthier, greener world?" Like, "Oh sorry, sorry, we got it wrong." You know, and I'm like, it's yeah, probably not a bad idea.

[17:23] Justin Clarke: Yeah, not at all a bad idea, a very good idea.

[17:26] Ally Morgan: Yeah, in fact. Uh well, let's divert from climate change.

[17:31] Justin Clarke: Come back.

[17:32] Ally Morgan: This is uh Theatre Thoughts Podcast.

[17:35] Justin Clarke: Do the theater.

[17:40] Ally Morgan: Running a small business? Are you promoting a new show or running a theater space? Maybe you're looking for an area to reach potential new clients. Why not advertise with us on the Theatre Thoughts Podcast? We have a range of packages and prices for you to put your ad right here on the podcast. More information, contact us at theaterthoughtsteam@outlook.com or by heading to our website, theatrethoughtsaus.online.

[18:06] Justin Clarke: So could you tell me the story of when Miranda came in and said, "Allie, I like this. I want to change it into a show"?

[18:11] Ally Morgan: Yeah, so Miranda was like, Miranda is such an angel on the planet, literally, just walking around, being amazing. Um, she was like, she directed a music video for one of the songs that is now in Not Today. And um, she was the one who kind of just pointed out you know when you're not aware of what you do as an artist. And she was like, "Did you know that your lyrics are kind of like mini little stories? And they're quite like confessional, almost like you're directly addressing someone, kind of like a monologue." And I was like, "Wow, that is super cool." And then she was like, "Yeah, have you considered putting it into a show?" And so I kind of just went away and stewed on that and started looking at the threads and how it could all work together.

And then I came back and I was like, I remember I booked a coffee with her where I was like, "Miranda, I do want to write a one-woman show." And she was like, "Okay, let's do it." And the thing about Miranda is that as soon as you say you're gonna do something, it's happening. Like she's such a go-getter. So it was happening. And it was great because I have a tendency to be like, "I have so many brilliant ideas, and I will never make any of them because they'll be perfect in my head, and if I try and make them, they won't be perfect." So um, so she like forced me to just make the thing, and um, so and she scheduled regular check-ins with me for my writing, and I just really wanted to show up, even no matter how crap my writing was. And it was really good because then I learned that writing is actually about drafts, doing multiple drafts. Yes, it doesn't have to be perfect the first go.

[19:42] Justin Clarke: Yeah.

[19:42] Ally Morgan: Um so that was a good little lesson to learn. And um, yeah, and then so I just like we just kept like I would I would write it, then when I'd bring it to her, and she would just basically be like, "Yeah, that's great, keep going." And it was honestly uh amazing because it's so rare to find someone who's in your corner like that.

[19:59] Justin Clarke: Yeah.

[20:00] Ally Morgan: Like I alm I often think like artists need coaches in the same way that athletes do.

[20:05] Justin Clarke: Oh, I love that.

[20:06] Ally Morgan: I love that.

[20:07] Justin Clarke: Say it again.

[20:08] Ally Morgan: Say it again. Coaches, yeah.

[20:10] Justin Clarke: Um she was like that. She was like the person, yeah, who was like standing on the side, handing me water, being like, "You're doing great."

[20:16] Ally Morgan: That's so good.

[20:18] Justin Clarke: I think you're right. I a hundred percent agree with that. Because it's so hard um in the theatre industry to do something yourself because everyone's trying to do something.

[20:26] Ally Morgan: Yeah.

[20:27] Justin Clarke: You know, there's so many people trying to make their own thing and slice, you know, cut out their own slice of the industry. Um like I even think about that most days with like Theatre Thoughts in the podcast. I go like, "Oh, it's just me." And and then like when you kind of reach out to other people and they go, "Oh, this is great, like this is you're doing well." And he goes, "Oh, okay, cool. Keep going."

[20:47] Ally Morgan: Yeah, literally.

[20:48] Justin Clarke: You get a new guest on, you're like, "Well, you want to talk to me?"

[20:51] Ally Morgan: Yeah, and you're like, "This is a thing we're doing."

[20:54] Justin Clarke: Yeah. I'm sure you have plenty of guests.

[20:56] Ally Morgan: That wasn't a deal.

[20:56] Justin Clarke: No, no, no, no, no, no.

[20:58] Ally Morgan: But I think just that um reminder that, you know, you're doing well, keep going. I think it's great.

[21:04] Justin Clarke: Totally. Because I remember we talked to um Eve Blake about some of the things that she does.

[21:08] Ally Morgan: Oh my gosh, she is so cool.

[21:10] Justin Clarke: Oh, she's amazing, isn't she?

[21:11] Ally Morgan: Incredible.

[21:12] Justin Clarke: Literally an inspiration.

[21:13] Ally Morgan: Yeah, to so many people. Um and I don't know if she realizes it.

[21:17] Justin Clarke: She's very humble.

[21:18] Ally Morgan: Yeah, I don't think she does.

[21:20] Justin Clarke: No.

[21:20] Ally Morgan: Um, but she was talking about the traps she said that she sets herself, and I was shocked at some of them.

[21:26] Justin Clarke: What are they?

[21:26] Ally Morgan: Um well she said one app that she uses. I can't remember the name of it, but um she talks about an app that she uses where if she doesn't write within a certain amount of time, everything she does gets deleted. So she'll just write right write, and then if she like has any breaks or anything or like is on her phone and she runs out of time, it's gone. So it's like get it done now.

[21:47] Justin Clarke: Oh wow.

[21:48] Ally Morgan: Okay, of course Eve Blake is being that hardcore out there.

[21:53] Justin Clarke: Okay, well, I didn't realize that was the part.

[21:55] Ally Morgan: But like that's like one thing, I guess if you're like a solo person.

[22:01] Justin Clarke: I could not, I'm way too anxious.

[22:03] Ally Morgan: It would just I'd go into paralysis and be like, "Right. Too scared."

[22:09] Justin Clarke: Excellent. Although that sounds very productive.

[22:12] Ally Morgan: It does. I should do that.

[22:13] Justin Clarke: Um if I can. But it seems to be working well. Like you and Miranda have like made this show. Um is now at the fringe.

[22:19] Ally Morgan: Now it wasn't premiered at the fringe, it was at Theatre Works, wasn't it?

[22:24] Justin Clarke: Yes.

[22:25] Ally Morgan: Well, it was part of um Melbourne Comedy Festival.

[22:28] Justin Clarke: Beautiful.

[22:29] Ally Morgan: So yeah, well, we did like a very small we kinda called it a preview season, which uh well, like a very like early, early iteration of the show at at KXT, um King's Crest Theatre. And that was only on for four nights and it was like the first draft of the script that we just whacked on stage. And um well, the first the first like fully complete draft. Um been through a lot of iterations, but anyway, yeah. And then we finally debuted the show, yeah, and Melbourne Comedy Festival, which was so cool because I didn't think that I was a comedian and then um now I am.

[23:00] Justin Clarke: There you go.

[23:00] Ally Morgan: 'Cause I've done a comedy festival.

[23:02] Justin Clarke: So on this evening.

[23:05] Ally Morgan: But it was actually so cool 'cause people were because people really engage with Melbourne Comedy Festivals. So people would come who just saw me on the lineup of comedians that day. And then they were awesome and they were really excited to laugh. Like I think that's the difference maybe between theater audiences and like audiences for stand up.

[23:26] Justin Clarke: Yeah, yeah, I think you're right, 'cause I've I've only went to the comedy festival first time this year.

[23:31] Ally Morgan: Um and now I want to make it a yearly thing.

[23:32] Justin Clarke: So it's so funny. I found it fascinating.

[23:35] Ally Morgan: Yeah.

[23:36] Justin Clarke: So fascinating. It was everywhere.

[23:38] Ally Morgan: Yes.

[23:39] Justin Clarke: Yeah. And like I guess it suits Melbourne 'cause it is so like it's built for theaters.

[23:45] Ally Morgan: Definitely.

[23:45] Justin Clarke: Whereas Sydney's like it is built for theaters, but it is so spread out.

[23:49] Ally Morgan: Oh yeah.

[23:49] Justin Clarke: So it makes it a little bit harder. Like you have to make an eye of it. Whereas like there you could just wander into the city and just, "Oh I'll go here. Oh maybe I'll go there."

[23:56] Ally Morgan: Yeah, hop on a tram, go home.

[23:57] Justin Clarke: Yeah, exactly. It's so cool. You loved it.

[24:00] Ally Morgan: And it really feels like the city comes out to celebrate it.

[24:03] Justin Clarke: That's what I felt. It felt really alive.

[24:05] Ally Morgan: Which is especially after like the lockdown that it had.

[24:07] Justin Clarke: Totally. And seeing the way those comedians write so efficiently like they've got one hour and they're gonna cram in as many jokes as they can and it's so well written.

[24:18] Ally Morgan: Yeah.

[24:19] Justin Clarke: I was just like, "Whoa my mind was blown."

[24:23] Ally Morgan: Yeah. Did you feel like I don't know how do I word this? Um do you did you feel like you weren't ready for it or did you feel like this was where I should be right now?

[24:33] Ally Morgan: Um it definitely yeah, I felt kind of like I wasn't ready, but in a nice way. It was like, "Whoa, I did not expect to be here, but yeah, I felt like I'd found my community."

[24:45] Justin Clarke: Okay.

[24:45] Ally Morgan: Um of Well, because it's like I like to toe the line. Like my show isn't really a comedy stand-up show at all. So it it kind of didn't really suit the didn't really suit the comedy festival, but then people liked it because it was like had a had that point of difference. Right compared to the festival. Um but also yeah, just like being amongst these creatives who just churn out new shows every year. That was really inspiring to see like how fast they worked and how quick their wits are and just got me really inspired to just feel a bit more free in my shows and embrace improvising or like embrace just like riffing with the audiences and things.

[25:22] Ally Morgan: Because my show has audience participation. So it made me feel like, okay, I don't have to be scared of this. It's so funny. I have such a love-hate thing with audience participation because I love seeing it, but I hate being the one they pick off.

[25:34] Justin Clarke: Everyone says that.

[25:35] Ally Morgan: Everyone is always like, the minute my friends who are coming to the show who I know and talk to daily, I'm like, can you sit in the front and like I could do the audience participation bit with you if you wanted. And they were like, no, no, no, no, no. I'm like, it would just be I would literally just chat to you like I do all the time. Um, but yeah, no, I actually hate it too. I'd like to don't tell me I don't make me 'cause I'm like I worry that I have to be good. That's what I think. That's what I think. It happened to me at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Somebody pulled me up and I was like, alright, I've gotta be good. I'm on stage now. Yeah, I'm gonna do it. And it's like I'm the star. So yeah, it is. I think that maybe it's an active thing. I think when I do it now, I try really hard to make the audience member feel like it's not a test at all. And it can totally flop.

[26:20] Justin Clarke: Yeah.

[26:21] Ally Morgan: And sometimes it's the funniest when it flops.

[26:23] Justin Clarke: Yeah, definitely.

[26:24] Ally Morgan: Yeah.

[26:24] Justin Clarke: Um, what else did I have for you? I was asking about that, and then oh, that's what I wanted to ask. Because the bio for your show mentioned like the song stylings that were quite similar to yours. So I wanted to ask where your inspirations for your styling sort of came from.

[26:42] Ally Morgan: My songwriting style? Yeah. Oh, that's a good question. Um, like lots of different places. So I've always been a really big fan of Australian comedy songwriters. Like I really love Tim Minchin and I love that guy so much. I'm gonna start next year. I'm doing a campaign to get him on the podcast. I'm gonna do one of those like day one of asking Tim Minchin. So if I can get him on, I think I can retire.

[27:10] Justin Clarke: Oh my gosh, can I join for the session?

[27:12] Ally Morgan: And just I'll just I won't even speak. I'll just sit in the corner. Um, yeah, so I love him and I also really love Kate Miller-Heidke. So she wrote Muriel's Wedding the Musical and like obviously is an amazing.

[27:22] Justin Clarke: How did she write that?

[27:23] Ally Morgan: Yeah, so and she's an amazing singer-songwriter, and if you listen to her lyrics, like she doesn't always write comedy songs, but her lyrics are really sharp and like witty. Um, so she kind of in the same way, like treads the line of comedy, and sometimes she just straight up writes comedy songs. Like she has this one great comedy song about this person who she hated who was her ex who added her on Facebook, and she was like, Are you fucking kidding me? Like that's what the whole song is about. But it's like hilarious. She's like, I don't want you poking me again.

[27:53] Justin Clarke: Get it?

[27:54] Ally Morgan: Because you poke on Facebook. Anyway. For everyone, for all the like Gen Z, you used to be able to poke.

[27:59] Justin Clarke: Yeah, yeah, that was written in the early 2000s.

[28:02] Ally Morgan: So um I remember those pokes. They were the I know, you just like repeatedly poke each other. It was so much. Especially like your crushes where you just like send you a poke.

[28:14] Justin Clarke: Do I poke them back?

[28:16] Ally Morgan: Um the MSN knock screen when somebody wasn't there.

[28:20] Justin Clarke: I forgot about that! You just unlocked a part of my memory line.

[28:25] Ally Morgan: Wow. Um yeah, so I loved them. I love them. And then I also really love folk like indie folk music. So I love um I love Phoebe Bridgers. She's like, do you know her? She's like killing it in America right now.

[28:39] Justin Clarke: Um I don't oh I thought you sorry for Phoebe Waller-Bridge. That's who I thought you said.

[28:44] Ally Morgan: And I was about to do it. Also love Phoebe Waller-Bridge though.

[28:46] Justin Clarke: Yeah, I'm just I can talk about her.

[28:49] Ally Morgan: Um but no, I don't know Phoebe Bridgers that one. Yeah, Phoebe Bridgers, she's really cool. She's like um she does a lot of folk rock. And um her lyrics are quite similar in well I love her style of lyric writing because she's quite a kind of like stream of consciousness confessional kind of style, in the same way that Tim Minchin writes very honest lyrics, like very frank and straight up. And um because of that they're like funny. Um so yeah, I love that sort of style, and I also just love like Julia Jacklin, Courtney Barnett, like other Australian, uh Missy Higgins even, like Paul Kelly, just like folk like folk, um what's the other word?

[29:28] Justin Clarke: Indie folk?

[29:29] Ally Morgan: Yeah, yeah, that kind of vibe. So that's why I play a lot of guitar and um in my show as well as piano, because I kinda like mixed up. Do a bit of Minchin, do a bit of Missy Higgins. Why not?

[29:41] Justin Clarke: Why not?

[29:42] Ally Morgan: So yeah, that's where I kind of end up.

[29:44] Justin Clarke: That's awesome. Cool. Well, did you want to play the theatre thoughts game?

[29:49] Ally Morgan: Yes.

[29:50] Justin Clarke: Okay. Right. It's called One Minute Theatre Thoughts.

[29:58] Ally Morgan: Okay.

[30:01] Justin Clarke: And now it's One Minute Theatre Thoughts with Ally Morgan. So I will set the timer for one minute. And you have one minute to answer all my questions on my page.

[30:11] Ally Morgan: I love it. If you get to the end, that's awesome. Great. If not, don't stress.

[30:15] Justin Clarke: Okay. You ready?

[30:17] Ally Morgan: Yeah.

[30:17] Justin Clarke: Just answer first thing that comes off the top of your head. Okay. Here we go. What is your go-to karaoke song?

[30:24] Ally Morgan: Oh my gosh. I really love "Burn" by Usher.

[30:27] Justin Clarke: Oh my god.

[30:28] Ally Morgan: That's embarrassing.

[30:30] Justin Clarke: Um who is your favorite artist?

[30:33] Ally Morgan: Artist. Phoebe Bridgers, yeah.

[30:35] Justin Clarke: Nice.

[30:35] Ally Morgan: I'm fine. I just love her. I'm obsessed.

[30:37] Justin Clarke: What is the best concert you've ever been to?

[30:40] Ally Morgan: Oh my gosh, that's so hard. Oh, Kate Miller-Heidke. I'm just saying all the same stuff. But yeah, Kate Miller-Heidke, she's amazing.

[30:47] Justin Clarke: What is your go-to comfort TV show?

[30:50] Ally Morgan: Grey's Anatomy.

[30:51] Justin Clarke: Oh, excellent.

[30:53] Ally Morgan: I've watched it.

[30:54] Justin Clarke: It's recent.

[30:54] Ally Morgan: That's recent actually. I've been binging the seasons last year.

[30:58] Justin Clarke: Um, what artist inspires you?

[31:01] Ally Morgan: Um, ooh, uh, okay, let's go with I'm gonna say Phoebe Waller-Bridge because she is an actor writer, hybrid, showrunner, amazing, extraordinaire person. Love her so much.

[31:13] Justin Clarke: And uh, oh, last one. Do you have a favorite musical?

[31:16] Ally Morgan: Um, sure, yes.

[31:18] Justin Clarke: Oh, I love Six.

[31:19] Ally Morgan: That's on right now.

[31:21] Justin Clarke: Guys, that's a one minute.

[31:22] Ally Morgan: Yay!

[31:23] Justin Clarke: And you answered all the questions.

[31:25] Ally Morgan: Oh my gosh. Ding ding ding. Love it. I'm assigning myself. Templan. I need like, I'm gonna have to buy like a trophy of some sort. Be like, you won!

[31:33] Justin Clarke: You need to have like a I might add that in post credit.

[31:38] Ally Morgan: Please do. I was like, this is credited by Ally Morgan.

[31:43] Justin Clarke: Excellent. Well, thank you so much, Ally.

[31:45] Ally Morgan: You're very, very welcome. Thank you for being our first one in studio.

[31:50] Justin Clarke: Yes. Wow, crowd goes wild.

[31:53] Ally Morgan: It's amazing.

[31:54] Justin Clarke: I feel like it's easier to go off track, but it's also beautiful to go off track.

[31:59] Ally Morgan: Yeah.

[32:00] Justin Clarke: So you kind of get like uh it's less formal, I guess, when it's via um well more formal, sorry, when it's via Zoom.

[32:06] Ally Morgan: Sure, yeah.

[32:07] Justin Clarke: So yeah.

[32:07] Ally Morgan: Yeah, no, I love I love listening to podcasts where they go off on tangents and you're like, yes, take you with you.

[32:13] Justin Clarke: Well, excellent. Well, Not Today is on at the Sydney Seymour Center, and then you start um is it two shows at the Riverside?

[32:20] Ally Morgan: Yeah, we do two shows.

[32:21] Justin Clarke: Yeah, from the 23rd at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta.

[32:24] Ally Morgan: Beautiful theatre. Get out there to go see.

[32:26] Justin Clarke: It is a beautiful theatre.

[32:28] Ally Morgan: Yes.

[32:28] Justin Clarke: Thank you. Well, thank you. Well, we will hear some of your music now, which I'm very excited for. And then um all the best with the rest of your shows.

[32:36] Ally Morgan: Thank you so much. A massive thank you to Robbie James at Rogue Projects for helping to organise today's episode. Thanks to Ally Morgan for joining us on the podcast. You can find out more about Ally by following her on Instagram at @AllyKMorgan. This episode was produced by Echidna Audio. Follow them at Echidna Audio on Instagram. Tickets for the performances of Not Today at Riverside Theatre Parramatta from the 23rd to the 24th of September can be booked at riversideparramatta.com.au. Now please enjoy Ally performing one of the songs from her hit show titled "Traffic."

[33:15] ♪ Musical number: "Traffic" — performed by Ally Morgan ♪

[36:48] Woo!

[36:59] Justin Clarke: That's it for another episode of the Theatre Thoughts Podcast. If you have a production you're wanting to promote, have a thought on theatre you wish to highlight, or feel like you can bring diverse and insightful conversation to the podcast, why not come on as a Theatre Thoughts co-host? We're looking for new and exciting people to come and feature in future podcasts and talk with our amazing guests. Contact our team now at theatrethoughtsteam@outlook.com or by hitting us up on our socials. Thanks again, and we'll see you next time here on the Theatre Thoughts Podcast.