When Annie Louey first met Maitreyi Karanth on the Hong Kong comedy circuit, the connection was instant. Years later, that spark has carried them to Sydney, where the pair will share the stage at the Factory Theatre for the world premiere of Daughter from Another Otter at this year’s Fringe.
Audiences can expect the pair to split the hour between them, each taking 30 minutes to test their freshest material in front of Sydney crowds. For Karanth, this is a milestone. “Maitreyi is making her Australian debut so she will be bringing her comedy A-game. Annie has performed regularly in Sydney so she is using this opportunity to bring her freshest jokes from the past year,” the comedians explained.
The title of their show might puzzle some, but the explanation reveals both warmth and silliness. “When we met each other there was an instant level of comfort. The title came about when we were bouncing ideas about how we should describe our relationship with each other. We wished there was something as catchy as ‘brother from another mother’ or ‘sister from another mister’ but would also acknowledge our intergenerational connection. So ‘Daughter From Another Otter’ was born. It’s also just silly and made us both laugh out loud.”
Their material takes audiences through different worlds, both literally and metaphorically. “Maitreyi takes you on an around the world trip talking about her travels, her menopausal age and finally about her relationship with her husband. Annie also talks about her travels but she is not menopausal and does not have a husband,” they said.
Both are stepping into Sydney Fringe for the first time. “This is the first time either of us has done Sydney Fringe before and it is known for encouraging emerging artists and allowing comedians to test new material. Factory Theatre is the hub for Sydney Fringe Comedy so it will be very exciting to be amongst all the action.”
Louey has built a reputation in Australia through both stage and screen. She was featured on Australian Story in 2023, an experience she still reflects on with disbelief. “‘Australian Story’ profiles notable Australians so it was a huge honour to be the subject of an episode, let alone one that has reached almost 2 million views on YouTube. That has proven to me that it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, audiences are drawn to compelling stories.”
Her ABC documentary Cross Border Comedy took her to Hong Kong, Malaysia and Cambodia, a project that gave her perspective on home audiences. “The comedy scenes in these countries are still developing, so it has put performing in Australia in perspective. Even though Australia has a small entertainment industry, there is still a lot to be grateful for and it is entirely possible to carve a career out of comedy here.”
Karanth has her own extensive background, with sold-out shows in Hong Kong and a TEDx talk that has reached hundreds of thousands of viewers. For her, Sydney represents something personal. “I am spreading my wings! Although I have performed around Asia, it feels special to be debuting in Australia. My son studied in Australia and I have very good friends living there, it was high time.”
Both remember their first forays into comedy with clarity. “I was a 16-year-old drama nerd who was trying stand-up for the first time after watching a lot of comedy DVDs,” Louey recalled. “Since then I’ve ditched the weird drama kid voice but I still have a soft spot for props, costumes and some theatre magic.”
Karanth’s memory is equally vivid. “Absolutely! The first time I performed was as an opening act for a visiting comedian and that too after only one open mic under my belt. It was a seven-minute set! Back then I did not know exactly what I was getting into, now I know and I love where I am.”
Their approaches to building material are practical and grounded. Louey said: “I make note of an idea in my notebook or on my phone. I will try to sneak it into some conversations with friends if it feels natural. After that, I will try an idea at a low stakes comedy room, or sandwich it between stronger jokes to give it the best chance of succeeding.”
Karanth follows a similar instinctive process. “I try it in my shows, usually in between other jokes. I tweak the jokes according to how I feel when I say it out loud.”
Cultural identity plays into their work in different ways. “I always like to acknowledge my cultural background but transition into talking about a universal range of topics. I’ve resigned to the fact that no matter what I say, it will still come out of an Asian face. I don’t need to talk about being Chinese all the time but it is a lens through which I see the world,” said Louey.
Karanth added: “I have Asian roots but I have also lived in the Middle East first for eight years then in Hong Kong for 25 years. I have travelled extensively and have friends from different cultures. My humor is therefore mostly universal.”
Even so, audiences react differently depending on location. “Hong Kong audiences generally do tend to be more reserved with their response to a comedy show compared to Australian audiences. Like many places in Asia, audiences enjoy jokes about differences in language and culture. Melbourne and Sydney are quite similar but I would say Sydney does enjoy humour that is a little less PC than Melbourne,” Louey explained.
Comedy, they both believe, is more than a laugh. “The longer I have been doing comedy, the more I realise how powerful it is. Spending extended time in Hong Kong made me realise the economic and political power that comedy has. It even has a place in international relations and diplomacy. So I feel a renewed sense of importance in being a comedian; it’s pretty cool!” Louey said.
Karanth has seen the same from a different angle. “I have so many women that come up to me expressing pride in representation. These women are of so many different cultures. When you give a comedic angle to relationships, cultures etc you realise there is so much commonality. Of course, the laughs equate to joy.”
Louey’s appearance on Australian Story left her with unexpected moments off stage. “I get very surprised when people say they have watched it because it was such a personal documentary so it feels like someone knows everything about me and I know nothing about them. I find people who have watched the episode approach me with this deep empathy, since I showed such a vulnerable side of me on the program, which is really nice.”
Karanth’s other life as a philanthropist is never far away. “When I started the KOMA Karanth Foundation I used all the money I made from my shows into the Foundation. If I could make people laugh and at the same time put a smile on the faces of underprivileged families, it would be such a win-win situation. Now I do have fundraiser shows at times but I also organise fundraiser shows for other charities. It’s a balance that comes naturally to me.”
The demands of comedy are relentless, but both have their coping mechanisms. “I have a colour co-ordinated Google Calendar that I worship. I have also given into the fact there will be periods of extreme stress and other periods where absolutely nothing seems to be happening. I try not to do more than 2-3 gigs a week outside of festivals and recharge by having a couple of nights on the couch with my dog,” said Louey.
Karanth laughed at the question. “I run a charity, do comedy and I teach mathematics. In between all of this, I manage to have some fun as well! It works because all of these things are what I love.”
Even hecklers form part of the story. “I was about 18 years old, doing one of my first open mics when a drunk man stumbled in off the street and heckled something racist at me. I did not have the skills to ‘deal’ with it but boy, do I think about how I would have destroyed that guy with my words if it happened today!” Louey remembered.
Karanth said: “Hong Kong has the most wonderful audiences. It’s always a fun drunk heckler and never nasty. Maybe I will experience a harder heckler in Australia?”
Asked what they would be doing without comedy, Louey answered with her usual dry humour. “I would probably still be some kind of entrepreneur with 15 jobs but comedy just wouldn’t be one of them. Honestly, I still daydream of doing all kinds of whacky things, like opening an ice-cream shop?”
Karanth is clear that she would still be giving her time to others. “I would be doing all the other things I am doing now and more! Philanthropy, teaching etc.”
The comedians are proud of their material, even if some jokes live better in performance than in print. Louey said: “There’s a joke I wrote that made it to a list of ‘Best jokes of the 2023 Comedy Festival’ by The Age. It’s about my dad and how he died. You can find the joke floating around online.”
Karanth smiled at her own favourite. “I actually have an Aussie joke about how Australians call flip flops as thongs. Very happy with that among many others.”
Off stage, they each find laughter in the everyday. “Anyone who’s game to rip a fart in front of me,” said Louey. Karanth added: “My best buddy Allan.”
Their advice to younger comics carries both humour and honesty. “Please stop. Find another career because I need the work, whereas you have your whole life ahead of you,” Louey said. Karanth took a different tack: “Stop chasing viral videos!”
Ultimately, the show is about giving audiences something to take home. “Something relatable to talk about on the way home! That is my gift to anyone who comes to watch my jokes,” Louey said.
Karanth echoed that thought. “That cultures can come together with laughter. At the end of the day, relationships are very similar.”
Daughter from Another Otter plays at the Factory Theatre on 27 and 28 September as part of Sydney Fringe Festival.
For more information and tickets, visit Factory Theatre.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
