Dispatches from the Fury Road: Noosa

I have officially become unmoored to the world.

This happens at some point when you’ve been on the road for a while. I’m guessing you would have experienced this when you’re on holiday too. It begins with losing track of the days. Then missed phone calls and text messages take weeks before you remember to reply. Your final sign is continually mistaking which town you’re in.

Last night I knew I was in Noosa. The signs all read Noosa. I have been to Noosa before. I know Noosa. I love Noosa. That didn’t stop me from telling people via phone conversations and text messages that I was in Ballina. We’re in Ballina on Saturday. I don’t know what produced this little tic but I now believe I am beyond the constraints of time and space, living in the Roadshow Zone.

Of course once you realise you’re making this mistake, it becomes a “thing”. Just before I walked out onstage, I made a deal with myself to not mention how great it was to be in Noosa again in case I substituted Ballina and promptly lost the audience. Don’t mention the town and you’ll be fine Hammo!

Then halfway through my set, I did mention the town. For a brief moment my brain was yelling, “Did you say Noosa? Please tell me you said Noosa. Come on mouth, we had a deal. Why are you going rogue on me? You know it rarely works in our favour when you act independently.” I waited for the audience to heckle me as one, and when they didn’t, I figured I was fine. That didn’t stop me from checking as soon as I walked offstage. Turns out I was fine, but it was nice to feel that adrenaline surge streaming through my body and wearing off around 3am.

Noosa is such a cute town and their theatre is a banger. I’ve been around long enough now to get a sense of what an audience will be like before the show begins, and last night began with a positive acknowledgment during the “Welcome to Country”. When that announcement is getting a round of applause, you know you’re going to have a fun night. Noosa did not disappoint.

Two shows to go and there’s a little sadness around the edges. You only ever tour with a particular crew once, and this has been a fun one. The roles we’ve settled into have produced funny dynamics, and some of us have even been branded with nicknames that will only make sense to us. Isn’t that right Popcorn Pat?

For now I’ll make certain I focus on tonight’s show and give it my best shot because you never know when you’ll pass through Ingham again.

Fuck. Ipswich!

Ok mouth, this time let’s definitely leave out the town and stick to the jokes.

Justin Hamilton

Pretty certain I’m in Noosa.

9th of May, 2024