Show based on local childhood

A stand-up comedian in the Sydney Comedy Festival is basing her show on her childhood in Hardy's Bay and Killcare.

She will also be the opening act in Heath Franklin's Chopper comedy show at Laycock St Theatre on Tuesday, May 5.

Felicity Ward, 28, who has been performing stand-up comedy for the past 12 months, said her debut show Ugly As a Child looks back at her childhood.

"The show is sort of a celebration of being different," Ms Ward said.

"It's about being ugly as a child, having weirdo parents, having no common sense and growing up in a small town - I blamed that for the way I felt.

"I would tell people stories about my family (My mum used to make me take an order form to school and sell sarongs and slapbands from her shop) or from my life (I was17 before someone pointed out that I didn't have to pull my skirt down to go to the toilet) and they'd usually respond in gasps of disbelief or laughter, so I thought maybe there was something in it."

Ms Ward said meal time at the family dinner table inspired her to get into comedy.

"We were so brutal to each other," Ms Ward said.

"I feel sorry for any boyfriend that we brought home because they were considered fresh blood.

"Dinner was only successful if someone cried."

Ms Ward said: "I lived in Hardy's Bay until I was 11, then our family decided we needed a change. "Something bigger. Better. So we moved over the hill to Killcare until I was 20.

"I would have moved away from the area sooner but there were only two buses a day back then and I couldn't be bothered taking packed boxes on Busways."

However, Ms Ward recalls some of her fondest childhood memories while revisiting the area.

"I went back to Putty Beach a couple of weeks ago," Ms Ward said.

"It just doesn't stop being beautiful.

"I remember playing in the mud flats, riding bikes along the track, eating chip butties on Killcare beach and watching people much older and cooler than me live effortlessly in a world of surfing.

"I must admit I do miss the bushwalk out to Box Head and The Yum Yum Tree."

Ms Ward attended Pretty Beach Public School before going on to Gosford High School.

"Up until a certain age, living in Killcare was amazing," Ms Ward said.

"But then I was always too much arty and not enough farty for the Central Coast.

"So although I had a great bunch of friends, I couldn't really make a career or a living or earn respect out of acting."

Ms Ward appeared at this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

She has hosted ABC Radio's The Comedy Hour and enjoyed appearances on the ABC's Spicks and Specks and Network Ten's sketch show The Ronnie John's Half Hour.

For bookings for the Laycock St Theatre performance, contact 4323 3233.

Bookings for the Sydney Comedy Festival can be made by phoning 9020 6966.

Clare Graham, 17 Apr 2009 Interviewee: Felicity Ward, Ugly As a Child Variety Show