Mary Coustas shot to stardom with her character Effie, the lovable Greek powerhouse of personality. Now she shows us the woman behind the character in her new show, This is Personal, coming to The Playhouse on 3-4 March. CW caught up with Coustas to discuss changing times, and iconic roles.

Tell us about the show.

It’s a show I was avoiding writing for a lifetime and it kept calling me; I didn’t want it to be a vanity piece.

It starts off about me, it quickly becomes we, and I think by the time the audience leaves the theatre, the show is theirs.

How has comedy changed since you started?

I am a big fan of public opinion and free speech but it doesn’t mean you should be cancelled for being human.

I feel like any ism, racism, sexism, is not visible anymore because people will be cancelled so quickly. It is like sending a child into the room and closing the door.

We’re all human and make mistakes but I think cutting the conversation short and cancelling someone doesn’t solve the problem.

Will Effie make an appearance?

There is a garnish of Effie; you don’t see her, you sense her, you get the essence of her. People haven’t really missed her because they get to see the whole picture.

Effie was the field I created to deal with a lot of heavy racism that I dealt with as a child. I needed to reverse the damage that was inflicted on me by creating something.

What’s on your to-do list in Canberra?

I want to eat, I want to inhale all the fantastic art, I want to see the people I love. We love Canberra, we have friends in Jindabyne and always spend a few days in Canberra.

It was on my wish list, and finally we found the right theatre and the right time. I really want Canberra to be another home to come back to.

What’s next?

I’m developing a television show based on the stage show. Television hasn’t been something that I have been rushing back to … I felt I could do better on stage. The nature of television is so bold now, in many ways it can really push the envelope, so I am happy to go back there.

See Mary Coustas, the woman behind the iconic character, in This is Personal at Canberra Theatre Centre, 3-4 March; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Mary Coustas’ answers have been condensed for publication.

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