Spotlight: Jess Fuchs, comedian
Jess Fuchs is an Australian stand-up comedian, writer, and actress known for her bold storytelling and chaotic charm.
Doron Chester
Jess Fuchs is performing her new comedy show ‘Feral’ across Australia, including at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (photo: provided)
Published: 19 March 2026
Last updated: 23 March 2026
What is your artistic practice?
I’m a stand-up comedian, a writer and an actor.
How long have you been working in this space?
Roughly 10 years. I started doing improv for about two years between 2014 and 2016 and then in 2018/19 I began doing stand-up more seriously.
Was there a specific moment that inspired you to pursue comedy?
I think I was always funny. I wonder about this, with creative arts, is it nature or nurture? I was always an outgoing, talkative, shit talking kid. I’m attracted to stand up, or it’s attracted to me, because I’ve always been nosy and inquisitive about people. I’ll ask questions and want every minute detail. But when I’m on stage, I just have to talk.
I’ve always been funny, so it’s not that hard. I need it. It’s funny how people get weird when you say, ‘yes, I’m actually funny’. I mean, I’d hope so, it’s my job. It’s like going to an insecure doctor.
What are you working on right now?
The first half of 2026 involves the biggest tour I’ve done to date. It’s my self-produced show called Feral. The tour will consist of shows in Melbourne (Melbourne Comedy Festival), Brisbane (Good Chat Comedy Store), Adelaide (Adelaide Fringe Festival), Perth (Comedy Club) and Sydney (Venue TBC). And then in August I’ll make my Edinburgh Fringe debut, which is a massive career milestone for me.
Feral, my 2026 stand-up tour, explores what happens when you rehearse, plan and overthink your way through life and it still goes off the rails. Blending incisive observations with intimate storytelling, Feral takes on body image, doctors, faith, and the myth that travel is somehow enlightening.
What is your favourite Jewish food and why?
I love Latkes, but I’m allergic to potato, which happened as I got older. So I have this real love-hate relationship to Latkes, because my family will eat them, or I’ll see them at a deli. It’s really sad. I ate them growing up, and my family would make them for the holidays. It’s a really triggering question.
We grew up eating my grandfather’s Knödel. After he passed, my brother took over making them for big family events, and everyone’s like, “Oh my God,” remembering our fucking dead grandfather, and I’m sitting there watching them all eat this, thinking, “Must be nice.”
Potatoes are really at the heart of a lot of Jewish food and I’m allergic. But It’s nice to have something to complain about. My own suffering.
Specifically, as a Jewish artist, what has brought you joy in the past year?
Regardless of political or social beliefs, being able to bring lightness and joy is distinctly Jewish. It’s storytelling which feels so Jewish to me. The ability to still have and use humour.
I played a small-town last year which had a population of about 800 or 1000 people and the venue seated about 80. It made me think about how nice it is that, at least for me, regardless of what’s going on in the world there is just so much joy to be had in the simplicity of laughter or stories being shared.
What keeps you motivated as a Jewish artist?
Telling stories. Australian stand-up can be dry, deadpan, almost uninspired to be there. But to me, storytelling is big, and expressive. You’d sit around the Shabbos table and someone is holding court. We aren’t quiet people, we’re very impassioned, whether we’re complaining or celebrating.
My style of comedy, especially within the context of Australia, is ‘unique’, where it’s a lot more eccentric and louder, especially as a woman. As a Jewish artist, I blend my home, and cultural Jewishness with comedy. That style is really motivating, because I don’t see many people like me, at least in Australia.
What piece of advice would you offer other Jewish artists navigating the creative industry right now?
For anyone who is in the arts, it’s understanding and acknowledging that the hard work is frustrating and might not always result in success or stability. Recognising that, that’s persistence and the truth of our industry.
Looking at my friends and family, my siblings have children now, and reliable jobs and I’m still chasing a career that’s really hard. People think it’s cool to be a comedian, but I just had to spent 90 minutes lining up at Officeworks...
Take us through a typical day for you
Most days will start with a reset, if there are clothes that have dried overnight, I’ll put them away. I’m very structured. I try to do some sort of exercise, going outside in nature or going to the gym, that really helps my brain.
A lot of my admin is coordinating stuff for my tour, I’m replying to a lot of emails, taking calls with venues, and setting up gigs. I might have a creative call with the director of my show, going through the trial show, discussing notes, or workshopping ideas.
I try to write or do something creative - podcast episodes, jokes for my special, a script or a sketch. Depending on where I am, I’ll perform. In Melbourne I did 30 shows in two weeks, sometimes three or four a night.
What are three things you cannot live without?
A pen and paper. That’s one item to me.
Family. I say that fully knowing that’s such a lame answer but it’s true. I’m in the position where I like my siblings, they’re my friends as well as my family.
Eatery: Barbetta - a slice of Italy in Paddington.
Listening: This is very Gen-Z coded, but I’m listening to Zara Larsson. She’s popping off right now. Olivia Dean and Remy Wolf too. I usually pair an album to when I’m writing a show, and last year I was listening to a lot of Olivia Rodrigo. I’m currently on the lookout for an album that suits my new show.
Watching: Heated Rivalry.
Jewish Recommendations: My Grandfather and I watched this Mel Brooks documentary together. Mel Brooks’ comedy bridged the gap between our generations. My Grandfather was always so supportive but had no idea what I was doing on stage. He would always do this thing where we'd bring up stuff to watch, or if I told him a phrase, he would go home, Google it, and bring back a handwritten definition. Like, the one time I said he was a ‘bad bitch’, he went home and wrote three definitions of what a ‘bad bitch’ was.
About the author
Doron Chester is a multidisciplinary performer, and strives to promote and elevate Jewish culture and the voices of Jewish artists.
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