Katerina Robinson and Kat Ronson are the amazing comedy duo babes that we’ve been waiting on. Fearless in their sketches, social media and stand-up shows, the pair are a breath of fresh air. After meeting on Facebook, the two partnered up and have been going from strength to strength since. We caught up with to Kat & Kat to find out a bit more about them and their upcoming projects.
How did you get into comedy?
Katerina: I went to drama school and trained as an actress for many years, then it got to a point where I wasn’t really auditioning, and I felt like I was losing direction. I’ve always loved comedy and making little Instagram sketches, so I decided to try stand-up at a couple of open mics in the hopes it would lead me to more comedy acting roles. It’s massively boosted my confidence and I probably would have never met Kat without taking that leap!
Kat: I started doing Love Island impression videos and TOWIE skits on Instagram. I’ve always done poetry but started performing more comedic story-telling poems. So it was all leaning towards comedy and I had no agent for my acting so I had nothing to lose. Someone dropped out of a gig last minute on Facebook, I said I’ll do it and wrote a set that day, performed that night – the rest is history 😉
Which Kat reached out first for the collaboration and how?
Kat: Me! I can take full credit for this. I slid in the DM’s.
Who (comedian or other) inspires you?
Katerina: I absolutely love Katherine Ryan and London Hughes, they are so sassy and just everything I aspire to be like in my comedy. I recently watched London Hughes’ Netflix Special called “To Catch A Dick” and it’s majorly inspired me in my own stand-up writing! I also love old school stuff like Smack the Pony, Carry On etc.
Kat: Oh my God so many. I was inspired by the Two Ronnies and Monty Python growing up. I love taking jokes too far and simple but effective jokes. They don’t care and will just do random shit, I love things that have a silly streak.
What is your creative process in coming up with a sketch?
Katerina: I think with creating a sketch it is important to work on something YOU genuinely find funny, rather than trying to please your audience too much. Mine and Kat’s process usually consists of a string of voice notes via Whatsapp to find the concept, then we’ll meet, set up our filming equipment and just start rolling. Our sketches have always been non-scripted and it is really nice working with someone you can just vibe and have fun with.
Kat: Ummm… have an idea. Talk. Film. That’s pretty much it.
Out of the sketches you’ve done together, which one is your favourite?
Katerina: I absolutely loved our “East London Love Island” sketch. It was the beginning of February 2020, obviously very cold and not exactly Love Island weather, so we both put on bikinis, bought this rubber ring, and sat in Kat’s bathtub pretending we were in some luxury pool. We even went as far as to write ‘Kat’ in permanent marker on our water bottles!
Kat: I think “How To Be a Hoe” – it’s got a lot of visual comedy. I’m deep-throating a hot dog, who wouldn’t love that?
Who really makes you laugh?
Katerina: Inbetweeners cracks me up! And Kat obviously! She has some of the best one-liners and I am constantly laughing when working with her, it’s very hard to keep a straight face when we’re filming.
Kat: The IT Crowd always has me in hysterics. My cat really makes me laugh too. I put sticky tape on her and she provides comedy for a good half hour. Really helps lockdown fly by!
What was your first gig (each) like?
Katerina: My first gig was surprisingly very pleasant! I purposely booked on to a beginner open mic in stand-up as I thought it would be less intimidating as everyone is in the same boat. I remember feeling so nervous beforehand, but I got up there wearing these black PVC leggings and I just owned it! I felt such a buzz and confidence boost hearing people laugh at my jokes and to this day, it is one of my proudest moments.
Kat: I won’t lie. I had a few jars to calm my nerves, looking back I think I maybe overdid it. I definitely could’ve tightened it up, but I had them all laughing and it felt right. So overall it was a really good experience.
What is your dream stage to perform on (globally and/or locally) and why?
Katerina: If they ever decide to use comedians, I would love to headline Coachella! I can just see me and Kat there wearing sassy AF outfits and being like the Beyonce of the comedy industry.
Kat: Glastonbury, firstly I’d get a free ticket! I’d perform some tunes, some comedy, I’d do it all. I’d do it all intoxicated. I just love festivals.
Your new show is coming out soon, what is the main thing would you like people to take away from it?
Katerina: I would love viewers to take away a little piece of happiness from “Lads”. The show is not political, racial or I would say making a point in general, it’s just about two lads pissing about and getting through life and I think during these difficult times we sometimes need a little bit of lighthearted humour and escapism.
Kat: Everyone takes things very seriously these days obviously due to the pandemic going on, so I hope people laugh a little and loosen up. Life is really stressful, but the minds of Dave and Charlie are very simple. I hope it’s cleansing.
What more can we expect from Kat & Kat in future?
Katerina: We have our series coming out and we are hopefully heading to Edinburgh Fringe this summer, if it goes ahead with our show “The Whoreing Twenties”. You can also expect world domination and global success #SpeakItIntoExistence.
Kat: We have our show “The Whoreing Twenties” coming later in the year and I wanna get started on series two of “Lads”. I think I’ve recovered from the first time, I’ll need a new wig though.
Interviewed by Lauren Johnson
