The Topp Twins (born 14 May 1958)[1] are the folk singing and activist sister comedy duo of New Zealand entertainers Jools and Lynda Topp. They are known for their country music influenced style, live shows and television performances. They often perform as characters, the most notable being the roles Ken & Ken, and Camp Mother & Camp Leader.[2]
The Topp Twins have performed as a country music-singing comedy duo since the 1970s. They started singing together and performing when they were children. Busking in Auckland on Queen Street in the 1980s was formative to their dynamic as entertainers with a regular Friday night appearance.[3] They were singing political songs of protest, about topics such as Māori land rights at Bastion Point and Nuclear Free New Zealand.[4] Both have been openly lesbian since the 1970s, and were advocates for homosexual law reform.[5]
Being out lesbians in the early 80s singing country music through comedic characters the Gingham Sisters was probably one of the most diverse combinations of political comedy in the world... (Jools and Linda Topp 2022)[6]
The Topp Twins developed characters for the banter and audience interaction around their music. As Jools said: "We made ourselves look ridiculous ... we asked them to laugh at us, not to laugh at someone else's misfortune."[3][7] In 2019 arts centre Expressions in Upper Hutt hosted an exhibition on the Topp Twins created by Te Manawa Museum in Palmerston North. Expressions director Leanne Wickham describes the appeal of the Topp Twins:
"They are able to draw people into their music and talk about the issues that are important to us using humour – whether it is Bastion Pt, the Springbok Tour or climate change."[7]
Television
In the late 1990s, they created their own TV series Do Not Adjust Your Twinset, which ran for three seasons and showcased their iconic cast of New Zealand characters, including Camp Mother & Camp Leader, the Bowling Ladies and Ken & Ken, roles for which they cross-dressed as 'typical kiwi blokes'.[8] The series won the twins several awards at the New Zealand Film and Television Awards and screened on the ABC and Foxtel networks in Australia. They have appeared on numerous specials and as guests. A cooking show called Topp Country ran over three seasons from 2014 to 2016.[9][10]
Untouchable Girls is the title of a well-known song by the Topp Twins, about standing up for what you believe in.
Memoir
In 2023, the Twins' memoir titled Untouchable Girls: The Topp Twins' Story was published in New Zealand.[16] In a television interview with The Project NZ, they said they used the downtime forced upon them by the COVID-19 pandemic and their respective cancer treatments to write the memoir.[17]
Both Jools and Lynda are openly lesbian.[18] In March 2013, Lynda married her long-time partner Donna Luxton, a preschool teacher.[19][20] At the time of their marriage, same-sex marriage was not legal in New Zealand, so the couple entered into a civil union as a substitute for marriage.[20] Same-sex marriage was made legal in New Zealand just a few months after the wedding.[21]
Before the third reading of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, which ultimately passed and legalised same-sex marriage in New Zealand, the Topp Twins publicly endorsed the bill in a post on their website.[22] In a statement, Lynda said, "Everybody should be able to stand up and say 'I'm getting married'. A Civil Union is demeaning, this idea that you will never be good enough, that your love is somehow less than or not as worthy. There's no romance to it. And today, I feel more romantic and more in love than I've ever felt in my life."[21]
Breast cancer
In 2006 Jools was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent treatment including mastectomy. From this experience the sisters incorporated Jool's personal story of treatment and recovery into a Topp Twins stage show that toured New Zealand including raising funds for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.[3][23][24] She and her sister Lynda were already breast cancer activists and continue to use their celebrity status to educate the public about the disease.
In 2022, it was revealed that Lynda and Jools have both been battling breast cancer since 2021, but decided to receive separate treatments to prevent contracting COVID-19.[25]
The Topp Prize is an annual prize named after the Topp Twins awarded by The New Zealand Comedy Trust to a 'practicing individual, duo or group with a strong, clear and unique voice'. It started in 2022.[34] Inaugural winner Chris Parker expressed he idolized the Topp Twins and said:[6]
A performer like myself is a product of the work, advocacy and representation that they’ve put out into the world with such positivity and respect for Aotearoa. (Chris Parker 2022)[6]
Aotearoa Music Awards
The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously known as New Zealand Music Awards (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.
^"Dragon Award Winners". Göteborg International Film Festival. Retrieved 18 April 2013. Audience Award – Best Feature Film ... Winner 2010: The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls
^"Topp Twins Accept Honorary Doctorates From Waikato". stuff.co.nz. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011. Last year Jools and Lynda Topp were honoured with honorary masters' degrees from Wintec, and yesterday they were back on the Founders Theatre stage accepting honorary doctorates from Waikato University.
