comedy festival - Whats The Show

Examining Beautiful Lies at The Substation

12/06/2026 Linda Lokhee🏆🥇🦉

Beautiful Lies Rating

★★★★★

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Matt Hawke’s comedy musical Beautiful Lies at The Substation in Darlinghurst is a cabaret packed full of colourful storytelling, with the theme of lies running through a myriad of original songs. Part of Sydney’s 2026 Qtopia Pride Fest, Hawke is clearly a deep thinker who knows how to involve the audience, by asking questions and getting them to self-reflect. His stories range from general family anecdotes, musings about mental health, sexual self-acceptance, genuine heartfelt personal stories, and the current worrisome state of the world.

He begins with examples of lies that parents tell their kids such as “carrots make your eyesight better” and expanding into those VIP characters that peppered our childhood like Santa Claus and The Tooth Fairy. Hawke delivers these stories melodiously singing and at times, talking to the audience during song, accompanied by his guitar or the keyboard. One of his first songs dedicated to one of his childhood heroes and crushes John Cena reminded me of the style of an early Guns and Roses and Bon Jovi song! This song was dedicated to John Cena after his younger self discovered that wrestling was not real and carried the anger of being lied to.

Alongside this song and the feeling of being duped by John Cena, some of Hawke’s songs were tender. Some were reflective and yet other songs had the upbeat feel of hilarity. Composing and performing such a wide range of songs indicated signs of an accomplished songwriter who understands his audience.

During his set, Hawke recalled stories from when he was dating people named Brad, Emma and Rosanna. He had the audience in stitches from these experiences which touched on a mix of topics that made some of us squirm! There was a moral to these songs, that sometimes for the sake of relationships, lies may be necessary – it can be a kinder choice to make.

The lighting by technician Katie deserves a shout out. In the small intimate space of The Substation, Katie created atmosphere with cleverly chosen lighting colours and focus.

Hawke had a way of smoothly switching from comedy into more serious topics and taking us with him, notably with one song that outlined the way humans tend to automatically default to telling lies. He’d answer “I’m fine” to his mum when she had asked how he was. However, his lyrics following those words outlined how not fine he was feeling. In this one song, it was the lyrics and how Hawke delivered them that stood out for a tremendously powerful ending.

Beautiful Lies was a well-rounded show which felt much more than just a stand-up comedy musical cabaret. Hawke examines the lies that others tell, lies we tell ourselves, and how lies impact our circles of family and friends.

Cheeky and honest, with a teeny-eeny sprinkling of Beautiful Lies, Matt Hawke’s signature musical comedy style is heading skyward. Be sure to catch his cabaret shows in the future!

The Substation, 136 Oxford Street Darlinghurst. Thursday 11 June 2026
Duration: 1 hour

To book tickets to Beautiful Lies, please visit https://tickets.qtopiasydney.com.au/Events/Matt-Hawke-Beautiful-Lies.

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Chaos and Comedy

04/05/202604/05/2026 Olwyn M Kerr🆕

Thank God You’re Queer Rating

★★★★★

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Now a returning fixture of the Brisbane Comedy Festival, Thank God You’re Queer riffs on the familiar and iconic format of Network 10’s Thank God You’re Here while centreing queer voices and experiences. It throws some of Brisbane’s sharpest Straight comedians into the unknown … and dares them to survive it.

The premise is simple but effective: pre-show prompts submitted by the audience via QR code—often drawn from real-life queer moments—are fed to a cast of LGBTQI+ improvisers who have only minutes to workshop ideas before stepping onstage. The result is predictably unpredictable, with scenes that veer from sharp and insightful to completely unhinged. (Brisbane City Council approving a giant, interactive Glory Hole…anyone?)

The Queer cast—Ollie Windsor, Beef, Caitlin McGrath, Cameron Watson, and Kelsey Wynn—didn’t just perform improv, they elevated it. Quick, fearless, and ridiculously funny, they built scenes that were as solid as they were chaotic, bouncing off each other with the kind of chemistry you can’t fake.

Successful Improv relies not only on a sharp wit but on respect, honesty, and a willingness to share the spotlight. The Queer cast showed that in spades allowing and supporting each other to run with a theme with all of the pivots that improv demands.
There was a generosity onstage that kept even the more chaotic moments grounded.

In contrast, the “Straight Cast”—Luka Dale, Liz Talbot, Rhys McCane, and Taylor Edwards – inhabited a deliberately more precarious role, thrown into unfamiliar territory in pursuit of the tongue-in-cheek title of “Best Ally.” Their willingness to commit, even when clearly out of their depth, made for some of the night’s more memorable moments. Watching them trying and (mostly) succeeding in keeping up? Comedy gold!

Hosting duties were handled smoothly by Daniel Kirkby representing Second Beat Productions. In collaboration with Big Fork Theatre, both companies continue to play a significant role in shaping Brisbane’s improv and comedy landscape. Daniel’s effortless charm meant the show never slowed down—each scene more unhinged and hilarious than the last, and his directing ability ensured that each scene closed at a critical and hilarious point.

As with any improv show, not every line lands—but that’s part of the appeal. What Thank God You’re Queer offered was spontaneity, risk, and an insightful look at lived experiences.

Standout performances of the evening saw Taylor Edwards crowned “Queen Ally” for the second year but there was not a dud note from any of the cast – Straight or Queer.

Ultimately, Thank God You’re Queer succeeds not by being polished, but by being present—leaning into the messiness of improv and the richness of the stories it draws from.

To book tickets to Thank God You’re Queer, please visit https://www.brisbanecomedyfestival.com/events/thank-god-youre-queer/.

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A Bold, Witty, and Unflinchingly Honest Exploration of the Human Psyche in Musical Form

14/04/2026 Aunty Kylie xo

Initial Consult: Taking diet culture to therapy Rating

★★★★★

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Charlotte Grimmer’s Initial Consult- Taking diet culture to therapy (2026 MICF) at The MC Showroom is a bold, witty, and unflinchingly honest exploration of the human psyche. Grimmer is a graduate of NIDA Acting program, a high school dance and drama teacher. Charlotte has performed this show in Edinburgh, Sydney and the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Bursting straight through the waiting room, Charlotte Grimmer’s initial court-mandated therapy session begins-and we, the audience find ourselves cast as the therapist. This fresh and fearless musical invites us into a hilariously triggering session filled with tap, rap, dance, and masterful keyboards. Grimmer’s performance showcases her diverse vocals, sharp wit and impressive comedic skillset.

The shows engaging narrative grapples with mental health, diet culture, perfectionism and the messy nuances of how we cope. Charlotte works the packed audience brilliantly- making pointed uncomfortable and knowing eye contact with every “therapist” in the room in moments that are at once awkward, hilarious, and deeply relatable. One moment the audience squirms, triggered and defensive: the next, they erupt with applause and laughter.

The stage is set with minimalist flair: a chair, a keyboard, and a side table adorned with tissues, a plant, and a pot. By the end of the performance, it resembles the floor of a teenager’s bedroom. Each prop is purposefully placed and thoughtfully used. Grimmer’s inventive excellence is evident in every detail—every movement, and exaggerated facial expression, and lyric is meticulously placed—creating a remarkably clever and cohesive piece highlighting Grimmer’s inventive flair and keen attention to detail.

Sadly, Melbourne, Charlotte Grimmer has wrapped up her season and is heading back to Queensland. The MC Showroom is conveniently located near plenty of pubs and dining options and has a licensed bar for enjoying a drink during the performance —ideal for steadying one’s nerves before this funny therapeutic ride. Patrons should note that accessibility is limited, with 25 stairs and no all-access bathroom.

In a thoughtful touch, Grimmer acknowledges the show’s potentially triggering themes, directing audience members towards support organisations such as The Butterfly Foundation. This thought-provoking and playfully disarming performance will follow you home.

Deliciously daring, Initial Consult- Taking diet culture to therapy (2026 MICF) is the kind of performance that makes you laugh, wince, and reflect—sometimes all in the same breath. Side effects may include sore cheeks from smiling and the sudden urge to book a therapy session… or a tap class.

Love Aunty Kylie xo

To book tickets to Initial Consult: Taking diet culture to therapy, please visit https://www.themcshowroom.com/whatson/melbourne-international-comedy-festival-2026-initial-consult.

Photographer: Joel Devereux

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Australia’s Worst Journalist

12/04/2026 Emelia May🥉

Australia’s Worst Journalist Rating

★★★★★

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For years, journalist Sweeney Preston issued dating advice for a major news conglomerate while his own love life was the stuff of noncommittal nightmares. Now, at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sweeney’s comedy-turned-conference-turned-confessional ‘Australia’s Worst Journalist’ broadcasts his story in full, excruciating detail (slideshow presentation included).

I questioned what exactly I’d signed up for as a guy in chinos ushered showgoers inside a glorified pantry beneath the Motley WhereHaus known simply as ‘The Vault’, but my worries were (mostly) put to rest as said chino-wearing guy made his way onstage. It was Sweeney Preston, armed with but a microphone and a clicker. With little preamble, he dove into a gritty self-exposé delivered via PowerPoint: harrowing retellings of Tinder dates, romantic getaways for one, radio-broadcasted roasts and roasting sage when all else failed. ‘Australia’s Worst Journalist’ put Sweeney in the proverbial stockyard, exposing his own articles and the ironic stories behind them to an entire pen of onlookers. As a writer, I felt a sick sense of survivor’s guilt, but as a writer whose work wasn’t up on that screen? Couldn’t be more entertained.

Sweeney was hilarious. Highly in tune with the room, he bantered off the cuff and even finessed the audience into the material itself, but this didn’t surprise me in the least. He’s a journalist—they’ll do anything for clicks (IYGIYGI). Even when veering off on baffling tangents, his stage presence and command of the narrative brought with it complete faith that there was always a line to be punched at the end. A tightly written, cheeky hour of non-stop self-deprecation served by a natural storyteller.

‘Australia’s Worst Journalist’ toes the line between public humiliation and raw honesty to create an incredibly relatable confessional piece, not just for fellow journalists and writers but anyone ever guilty of trying. Curating the persona of ‘you’ takes trial, error and a fair amount of bullshitting first. It also means you have to keep throwing that self at the wall to see what about it sticks and what sticks isn’t always what you’re most proud (or even capable) of. For all it’s a comedy show, ‘Australia’s Worst Journalist’ gets that and that’s why it works so well.

Sweeney Preston took control of his own narrative to deliver a show that was effortlessly funny, silly as hell, and with just a dash of heart (but not too much). Brilliant work and a pleasure to watch—I expect to see many more shows in his future. Be sure to tune in to ‘Australia’s Worst Journalist’ at the Motley WhereHaus until the 19th of April.

To book tickets to Australia’s Worst Journalist, please visit https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/australia-s-worst-journalist/.

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