Chris Demos is Crunching in Strong With Chips In The Night for Melbourne International Comedy Festival Do you spend your nights bathed in blue light, staring at screens and eating chips? Then you deserve a break. So come join me on my potato-ship and we’ll sail across the seven seas of hilarities in this stand-up show about gastroenterologists, double vanities and so many more things. Grab your chips and hold on tight, Chris is back with his signature sharp wit and storytelling finesse.
Chris, a former RAW Comedy Victorian State Finalist and mainstay of the Australian comedy scene. Following sold-out seasons of Casual Luxury (2022) and Legs in the Pool (2024) and Actually Kind of Hot (2025), Chris is back at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his fourth solo show. Chips In The Night is for anyone who spent lonely nights on the couch with reality TV for a companion. There’s no nautical theme, but there may be an occasional reference to Below Deck.
A former RAW Comedy Victorian State finalist and staple of the Melbourne comedy scene, Chris has carved out a reputation for his keen observational humour and magnetic stage presence. Whether you’re a fan of Judge Judy, Judi Dench, or just the awkward spectacle of someone trying to remove a too-tight pair of boots, this show is for you.
Catch Chips In The Night at Melbourne Comedy Festival from April 7 to 19 at Storyville. Tickets on sale now.
“Strong stage presence, gaggy punchlines and insightful storytelling.” ★★★★ The Funny Tonne
“Demos is instantly likeable, making an immediate connection with his audience… a comedian on the rise and one to look out for.” Australian Arts Review
“A hilariously and viciously observant, radiantly talented storyteller.” Praise Dionysus
There’s Gold at the Motley Wherehaus This Comedy Festival with the UKs Mark Silcox! “Mark Silcox, the long-reigning king of gold-plated anti-comedy, strikes again.” ★★★★★ The Skinny (UK)
The UK’s Dr Silcox is coming down under to tell us how to find gold with The Successful Gold Trader! No, not in the Ballarat goldfields, but instead in the highly lucrative gold market! Silcox, a favourite on the UK comedy scene (as seen in BBC’s Mandy by Dianne Morgan, Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back (Channel 4) and Uncle Shady in Man Like Mobeen by Guz Khan (BBC)), is a successful gold trader who delivers a show for Melbourne Comedy Festival designed to entertain and share the secrets of his success! And as for those 1-star reviews, Mark is proud of every single one of them and actually encourages them! Disparage and you shall see!
Ex-scientist and a UK-qualified science teacher Dr Silcox, heading into his sixties, faced considerable financial insecurity and an uncertain retirement outlook. He managed to change all of this with success through a gold trading strategy. Focusing on the gold market, his methodology began to yield significant results. Over a single quarter, he achieved 100% return on his initial capital, transforming his modest £500 trading account. Silcox is now a successful trader, leveraging his experience to motivate his audience. He shares his personal journey and provides insights into his analytical techniques for gold speculation with his new show The Successful Gold Trader. Audiences will receive insights, stories and an entertaining evening coupled with powerpoint presentation that shows just how Dr Silcox did it – and how you can too! Given he doubled £500 in three months, this is a must-see show for every punter struggling in the unstable economy. The Successful Gold Trader will play at the Motley Wherehaus running from 23 March to 19 April.
BIOGRAPHY Mark is an ex-scientist and a UK-qualified science teacher. If you meet him, you will immediately realise that you have met someone who has mastered the skills of passing academic exams and yet has no idea how things work in real life. His no-nonsense approach to anything he does puts off everyone around him. Mark fails to understand why? Mark has not made a link between the academic world and real life. He is an idealist, minimalist, belongs in this world, and he is a traveller. He respects machines and machines never let him down. He is natural with machines and yet it took him seven attempts to pass his driving test. This had been the biggest setback for him, while his wife and daughter passed their driving tests before him.
Before Mark started doing standup comedy, he was a well-respected badminton player in his local club simply because of his grip on the game. The grip he developed by working hard over the years. The arrival of a few young Chinese players in the club put Mark off from playing badminton and he registered for a stand-up comedy course at Citylit to find a new hobby. After finishing the course, Mark did 60 gigs in clubs and bars all over the country, then he went to Germany to work as a scientist and stopped doing comedy for three years. Mark started gigging again in September 2012 with a completely new and clean routine.
PRAISE FOR DR SILCOX “His utter commitment, stretching out each petty victory or defeat into a matter of great importance is all hilarious.” Steve Bennett, Chortle ★★★★★ A Young(ish) Perspective ★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★ Chortle (UK) ★★★★ To Do List
Following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, selection as Jordan’s Official Entry for the 98th Academy Awards, and Audience Award at the Sydney Film Festival, All That’s Left of You — the acclaimed new feature film by Cherien Dabis (Only Murders in the Building) – is set to open in Australian cinemas on 9 April.
Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo are executive producers of this deeply moving epic chronicling the loves, hopes, losses and traumas of a Palestinian family across seven decades, with Dabis starring alongside the brilliant Bakri dynasty — brothers Saleh Bakri (The Blue Caftan) and Adam Bakri (Omar), and their father, the late Mohammad Bakri (Wajib).
About the Film In the occupied West Bank, 1988, a young man named Noor joins a protest that is met with devastating violence. Decades later, his mother Hanan (Dabis) sets out to tell the story of her son – but to do so, she must first return to 1948, to recount his grandfather’s (Adam Bakri) expulsion from Jaffa. Across the generations that follow, the hope of return to that home endures as both aspiration and wound, even as the family is carried further from it. Through all the disappointments and devastation, there abides the love story between Hanan and her devoted husband, Salim (Saleh Bakri).
About the Director Cherien Dabis is a Palestinian American filmmaker and actress who has established herself as a creative force across multiple mediums. Having helped forge a new genre of Arab American storytelling, she brings authenticity, complexity and humanity to the stories she writes, directs and performs, spotlighting underrepresented perspectives with both rigour and warmth.
“The film is inspired in part by my family. My father is a Palestinian refugee who lived most of his life in exile.”
That personal experience imbues All That’s Left of You with emotional authenticity and quiet devastation. It is a film that charts the history of a family who have known great tragedy — yet it also dares to offer the possibility of healing.
“This isn’t political in its approach — it’s deeply personal and profoundly intimate. A historical epic that chronicles the story of the land through the eyes of one family and three generations of struggle. A family portrait, examining the relationship between grandfather, father and son, and the legacy of trauma passed down to each. It’s also a drama with piercing moments of joy, love and humour.
“Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to spark change by starting a conversation around the need for recognition of our suffering, because that’s where healing begins. I truly believe in the power of cinema to reframe, inspire and heal.”
— Cherien Dabis, Writer/Director
Critical Acclaim “A deeply moving epic.” – The Guardian “A sweeping, historical drama.” – The Hollywood Reporter “Incredible, stunning performances.” – Elle “A profound masterpiece.” – Pajiba
Producers of the hit Broadway musical ANASTASIA have today revealed the talented young Sydney performers who will be sharing the role of Little Anastasia in the highly anticipated musical opening in April at the spectacular Lyric Theatre Sydney. The local performers who scored the coveted role amongst many keen auditionees are Arianna Lorusso aged 9 and based in Beacon Hill; Maya Porragas aged 10 from Cremorne; Willa Valaris aged 10 from Allambie Heights and Willow Wilson aged 11 from Lisarow.
The crowd-favourite musical made its Australian debut in December at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre wowing audiences and critics alike, and is now playing in Perth. New tickets for the Sydney season go on sale today for the final performances from 8 – 19 July.
Time Out Melbourne called the musical a “charming theatre experience” that was “destined to deliver theatrical magic” while The Music said it was “a theatrical spectacle that dazzles on every front and will leave you spellbound” and Beat Magazine said that the musical’s “dazzling Australian premiere is rich with powerful performances.”
These hugely talented young performers will join cast members Georgina Hopson as Anya, Robert Tripolino as charming con artist Dmitry, Joshua Robson in the role of antagonist Gleb, Rodney Dobson as Vlad, the much-loved Rhonda Burchmore as Countess Lily and theatre icon Nancye Hayes AM in the role of the Dowager Empress.
The ensemble cast includes Sophia Bae, Elliot Baker, Nicholas Cunningham, Davis Giotopoulos Moore, Todd Goddard, Stephanie Kurlow, Keian Langdon, Bella Minniti, Nathan Stafford, Alexis Van Maanen, Patrick Volpe, Annie Wilson, Deone Zanotto and Andrea Zappacosta with the swings team featuring Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Iosefa Laga’aia, Nathan Pinnell and Emma Russell.
Inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape in the dawning days of the Russian Revolution, and the 1997 Oscar nominated animated film of the same name, ANASTASIA has been brought to life on the stage by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.
ANASTASIA is a lavish musical for all ages, transporting audiences from the twilight years of the Imperial rule to the euphoria and exuberance of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman named Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by an army officer determined to silence her, she enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.
Directed by Tony Award winning director Darko Tresnjak, ANASTASIA premiered on Broadway in March 2017. It received a Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design in a Musical and won more than 15 major international awards including Best Musical awards in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.
The book for ANASTASIA was written by the late five time Tony Award winning writer Terrence McNally, whose credits include Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime.
Music and lyrics for ANASTASIA were written by the renowned writing team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens who have been referred to as “one of the greatest songwriting teams in Broadway history.” (Chicago Tribune).
“Fantastical, intelligent, well-crafted, and exhilarating, ANASTASIA deserves a coronation!” – The Wall Street Journal “Captivating, beautifully staged and emotionally vital. ANASTASIA hits the sweet spot!” – The Hollywood Reporter “One of the most gorgeous shows in years! Luscious, lavish, and a joy that leaves you cheering. This is a grandiloquent feast for the senses you won’t soon forget.” – The New York Observer
ANASTASIA – THE BROADWAY MUSICAL Produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live and Opera Australia in special collaboration with Stage Entertainment Productions, Tom Kirdahy, Hunter Arnold and Dan Hinde
SYDNEY SEASON DETAILS Venue: Sydney Lyric Theatre Season: From 7 April Performance Times: Tue-Thurs at 7pm, Fr-Sat 7:30pm, Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm, 3pm or 6pm (performance times vary each week) Prices: From $69.90 (Transaction fees apply) Bookings: anastasiathemusical.com.au or 136 100 Groups 8+ email groups@ticketmaster.com.au
Festival Theatre Adelaide from August Lyric Theatre QPAC, Brisbane from September
