Theatre actor, writer and comedian Gillian Cosgriff has appeared in an abundance of theatre and TV shows since graduating from WAAPA in 2010 – including Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, The Pirates Of Penzance and TV shows such as ABC Comedy Up Late, Upfront Gala, Tonightly, Offspring and House Husbands to name a few.
Now she returns to the Melbourne Comedy Festival with a new show Life, Oh Life – which as its title suggests, is a comic look at like’s bigger philosophical and sometimes existential crisis we find ourselves in.
Dubbed a musical comedy with gags about people who have actually lived – take it from someone who is truly living theirs!
Gillian Cosgriff spoke to The Write Drop for our At The Bar series and shares some fabulous tips on favourite bars, overseas must-visits and why Melbourne is her favourite place.
MY CITY
Melbourne is my favourite city in the world. It’s a city that feels like a village to me, especially during Comedy Festival. I love being able to walk through the city running into friends, popping into shows and bars and catching up, and showing people from out of town my favourite places. The guy from the crepe stand on Swanston Street says hello to me by name and THAT is why I got into this business.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
My sister’s a chef and she worked at Olive Et Gourmando in Montreal a few years ago and made me the most incredible brunch of my life. Home-made ricotta on grilled bread with tomatoes, corn, herbs, crispy garlic and some kind of magic dressing.
FAVOURITE BAR
Dry gin martini with a twist, and the house bread with tomato at Crossley St Cantina. I’ll have three of each please. It’s a good sneaky spot right in the middle of the city that’s perfectly situated for locking in, or bar hopping the neighbouring blocks. Equally delightful on a summer night or for shelter from the rain.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
A boulevardier. (It’s like a Negroni, but with Scotch instead of gin.) Lightly pretentious but unexpectedly enjoyable. Maybe you’ve never heard of it, but you like it more than you thought you would.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
Hydralyte and hashbrowns. Ideally consume with the people you were drinking with and gossip about the night before.
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
I love Leigh St Wine Room in Adelaide. Great food, great booze, and the vibe is immaculate. They’re also super close to my other Adelaide favourites Fugazzi and Shōbōsho.
OVERSEAS BAR
The Flower Bar in Shimokitazawa in Tokyo. It’s a flower shop and bar combined in one of my favourite Tokyo areas. Also super close by is Upstairs Records & Bar which is a great record bar with excellent music. The owner realised some of us were from Perth and immediately put on Tame Impala. What a legend.
FAVOURITE WINE
Collio Bianco by Edi Keber. I drank this wine in a tiny town called Cormons in Italy on holiday with my partner and a good friend of ours. I googled the area on the way in and found a blog that recommended this wine – neither of the boys had learned any Italian and then I ordered this specific wine with my basic Duo Lingo skills and everyone was very impressed. A delicious white that pairs beautifully with being smug.
FAVOURITE WINERY
I got to do a gig at Mitchelton Wines in Nagambie two years ago and it was absolutely beautiful. Also, every Christmas my partner and I sneak off with my sister and brother-in-law to do a tasting on Boxing Day at Moorooduc Estate on the Mornington Peninsula and it’s always lovely.
NEXT DESTINATION
Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the whole month, then Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart and Geelong.
