If Laura Johnston’s parents were ever in any doubt of her commitment to comedy (and they are, after paying hefty Canberra Girls Grammar fees), look at what she’s prepared to do to get a full house.

The 26-year-old comedian posted on Facebook about her quest to meet 1099 people before Christmas in order to sell tickets to her show (which is all about why an ANU graduate chose stand-up).  

So why on Earth has Laura done a three-year degree (in seven years) and opted for the precarious world of comedy?

“Technically, I studied international relations, but I ended up studying glassblowing, jazz and optimism,” Laura said. “Did optimism leave me more pessimistic because it taught me about nihilism? Yes.”

In order to gather an audience, Laura is heeding suggestions on FB such as weeding people’s gardens, moving furniture and standing outside Jamison shops with a sign stating, “don’t give me money, come see my show”.

Armed with a guitar with only one string outside Jamison shops, it technically wasn’t busking but Laura reassured confused passers-by, “it’s ok, I’m a comedian”.

“Someone commented on Facebook, come to my garage sale and I ended up helping them move house,” she said. “Another person messaged me, ‘Hey, come help me weed my garden, we’re doing a weeding party.’

“I’m going to do the politician move and stand out the front of a shopping centre with a sign that says, ‘don’t give me money, come see my show’ and then in brackets, my bank account and BSB number in case people do want to give me money.”

This may appear desperate but rest assured, Laura does have credentials: making the top 100 comedians at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a semi-finalist in the Funny Women Awards.

Unbelievably, Laura used to suffer stage fright, so to conquer her fears she performed a comedy show in the nude at Adelaide Fringe Festival – in front of 110 people.

Her loving parents are still unsure of her career choice.

“They were like, ‘Ok Laura, you can chase these crazy dreams we don’t support but as long as you get your degree, we won’t freak out,’” she said. “Let’s say that they’re not thrilled.”

Laura’s parents have bought tickets to her Canberra show in January (that brings the tally to 60 seats) and she’s using the opportunity “to get them on board”.

“Every time that I tell them about these ideas or that I’m going to the Edinburgh Fringe, they’re like, ‘When are you going to be done with comedy? Like, is this the last thing?’ So I’m hoping that when they see the show and my vision becomes a reality, they’ll go, ‘Oh there’s a reason that she wants to do this.’”

Laura’s also in a documentary filmed at Edinburgh Fringe, which brings us to why she needs to film her stand-up show – they need professional footage of her act. The other reason is, it’s on her bucket list.

“The coolest part is that I’m starting to get to know comedians and starting to call some of them my friends,” she said. “Sammy J has endorsed my show and makes a bit of a vocal appearance at the start of it, it feels really cool.”

Laura’s only being doing comedy for five years and before that she worked at the Royal Australian Mint as a tour guide. These days she does casual work as a children’s entertainer at Canberra Hospital.

“It’s surprising how similar kids and drunk adults are,” she said.

This born-and-bred Canberran needs to sell a baseline of 323 tickets before Christmas (405 would make her break even).

“I’ve got this dream that I do have to achieve, I’m spending all of my savings,” she said. “Sometimes I just get this feeling where I’m like, this is what I need to do in order to take the next step in my comedy career. I’m just so certain that comedy is what I want to do.”

That’s… Brave (bucket list edition) is on 30 January 2026 (straight after her birthday) at The Playhouse. Tickets: canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/laura-johnston-2026