Lube Me Alone – Vanessa Larry Mitchell

I first saw Vanessa Larry Mitchell at the Northern Rivers Hotel in Lismore a few years ago, where she was hosting a comedy showcase. Some of the local comedians were fantastic, while others were… well, less so. That was years ago, but I’ve been following her career ever since.

I’ll never forget that night, as I ended up being the butt of her jokes. I was “the guy from Surry Hills” even though I was born and bred in South Lismore.

From that moment, I was hooked. It was clear she was an incredible talent, turning a seemingly dull job into a vibrant career as a comedian. A public speaker and trainer with a background in the disability and community sectors, Vanessa honed her craft on the North Coast before writing her hilarious show, “Tears Are My Dildo.” The show went on to tour nationally and even made it all the way to Edinburgh.

When I saw her again at the Sydney Comedy Festival a couple of years ago, she looked at me and said, “I know your face.” I reminded her of that Wednesday night in Lismore and the part I played in her routine. I must have one of those faces that comedians love to pick on—and I’m always happy to play along.

I saw her perform again just last night at the Sydney Fringe Festival. And sure enough, I was once again the butt of her jokes. When she asked where I was from, I told her Lismore, and we had a great chat after the show about our shared connection to the city.

Like many others, Vanessa lost everything in the Lismore floods in 2022. It was wonderful to see her tackle that difficult period with her signature humor, weaving some jokes about the experience into her first show, Tears On My Dildo. The new show, Lube Me Alone primarily focused on sex and dating and relationships, as the name would imply. The thing I love most about her humour is the joy with which she delivers it all.

The hour-long show was a blast, and I hope my nieces enjoy it just as much as I did.