A host of Melbourne International Comedy Festival comics gather to explore how comedy survives, thrives and occasionally lands a punch on authoritarianism.
The powerful often say they have a sense of humour. This turns out to be true – provided the joke is about someone else.
From public denunciations to legal action and intimidation, comedians across the world are increasingly required to work within narrowing spaces, where the right punchline at the expense of the wrong politician carries the risk of personal and professional consequences. When laughter is policed this closely, what does it reveal about the strength – and fragility – of power?
Join host Tom Ballard alongside leading comic voices Bahaa Dabbagh, Leon Filewood and Sam Jay for a timely conversation on the role and power of comedy in an age of rising authoritarianism.
This event was recorded on Saturday 28 March 2026 at The Wheeler Centre.
It was presented in partnership with Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Featured music is ‘Golden Hour’ by Sarah, the Illstrumentalist.
Content warning: This episode contains strong course language.
Support the Wheeler Centre: https://www.wheelercentre.com/support-us/donate
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Who’s Afraid of a Joke? Panel @ The Wheeler Centre
A host of Melbourne International Comedy Festival comics gather to explore how comedy survives, thrives and occasionally lands a punch on authoritarianism.
The powerful often say they have a sense of humour. This turns out to be true – provided the joke is about someone else.
From public denunciations to legal action and intimidation, comedians across the world are increasingly required to work within narrowing spaces, where the right punchline at the expense of the wrong politician carries the risk of personal and professional consequences. When laughter is policed this closely, what does it reveal about the strength – and fragility – of power?
Join host Tom Ballard alongside leading comic voices Bahaa Dabbagh, Leon Filewood and Sam Jay for a timely conversation on the role and power of comedy in an age of rising authoritarianism.
Presented in partnership with Melbourne International Comedy Festival
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jks: a comedy(?) at MICF 2026
The sell-out Melbourne Fringe hit returns for six shows only!
A weekly stand-up gig. Backstage.
In between their sets, five comedians are laughing, bitching and talking shit.
It’s all fun and games… until they hear the news: a legend has died.
Depending on who you ask, he either leaves behind a lifetime of laughter, or a legacy of bigotry and pain. Or maybe both. Or neither…
The comics get stuck in: was this guy actually funny, or just embarrassing? Is being “funny” all that matters, anyway? What’s even the point of telling jokes? How much harm (or good) can they ever do? How dark and f#%ked up can you go? Who can say what – and who decides?
As the gig carries on in the background, the comics go to war on ‘The Big Question’ – what is comedy even for?
A new (funny) play about what it means to be funny.
Starring Bev Killick (Deadloch), Kevin Hofbauer (Dear Life), Tom Ballard (Tonightly), Tiana Hogben (Thank God You’re Here) and Lauren Bonner (Going Under).
Written by Tom Ballard.
Directed by Ben Russell (Thank God You’re Here).
Longlisted for the 2025 Griffin Award.
‘Clever, illuminating.’ ★★★★ The Age
‘Acerbic and flat-out hilarious.’ ★★★★★ Tinsel & Tap Shoes
‘A wonderfully, tightly written commentary on comedy today.’ ★★★★ Theatre Matters
Content warning: this play includes very strong coarse language, adult themes, black humour and the use of certain slurs relating to disability, race and gender.
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Gold Star Gays Jokes
BE FUNNY CHALLENGE (IMPOSSIBLE) | 2026 TOUR
As seen on Fisk, Deadloch, Tonightly, Guy Montgomery’s Spelling Bee and Deal Or No Deal (for some reason). As heard on podcast Serious Danger.
After a year away from touring, doing nothing but being very nice and uncontroversial, Australia’s Special Envoy For Comedy Tom Ballard returns in 2026 with a new show packed with heaps of jokes about all the stuff.
You should definitely come along. After all, the world is extremely normal right now and everyone’s getting along really well, so why don’t we all just get together and have a nice laugh about it, you know?
What’s the worst that could happen????
Nominee – Melbourne Comedy Festival Award 2023
Nominee – Best Comedy, Melbourne Fringe 2023
“One of the slickest hours of stand-up I’ve ever seen and packing a proper comedy punch.” Adam Hills
“Fierce and funny…Ballard is a dynamo – a whirling, toe-curling bundle of energy, who is as politically powerful as he is fantastically funny.” ★★★★½ Arts Hub
“A relentless whirl of opinion, silliness, and increasingly bad-taste jokes against those who most deserve it.” ★★★★½ Chortle [UK]
“Absolutely packed with elite gags” ★★★★ The Scotsman [UK]
“To call Ballard a comedian is being kind…..All Ballard has is a potty mouth, and being from the demographic their ABC loves.” hair stew, Daily Mail commenter
ETTE Media LIVE in Canberra
Ever scrolled through the news and thought…really?
Join ETTE MEDIA’s Jan Fran and Antoinette Lattouf for their debut live show ‘IT’S A NO FROM ME’ – an evening of sharp, frank and funny witticism and criticism in a world turning to shiticism.
Be part of the Etterati as Jan and Antoinette peel back the layers of modern media to show you how (and why!) the sausage is made. There will be room for your hot takes, cold rage and lukewarm feelings about the state of the world.
They’ll be joined by experts to dissect the nonsense, comedians to reveal the absurd, and a rotating guest list of musicians and poets to tell you the truth.
So get geared up for a night that will definitely make you laugh, probably make you cry and hopefully make you think.
Excited to join the ladies’ show in CANBERRA on WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4th.
Tickets selling FAST.
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The Queer Kingdom at Midsumma 2026
Winner of the 2024 Queer Playwriting Award.
In 2004, a group of radicals boarded a fishing trawler they’d christened The Gayflower, flew 200 nautical miles off the coast of Queensland, and landed on a tiny patch of sand and birdshit in the middle of the sea.
Their mission? To plant a rainbow flag in the sand and officially declare the creation of The Gay & Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands: a magical nation independent of homophobic Australia, where there would be equality for all, the currency was the pink dollar, and the national anthem was I Am What I Am.
One can’t help but ask… what the f**k were they thinking?
Directed by the acclaimed Lyall Brooks (Become The One), this full production of the new play from Helpmann Award-winning comic Tom Ballard (Deadloch, Fisk) will make you laugh, cry, think, dance, and join the fight for a better world.
Starring an all-star queer cast: ANDY BALLOCH (The Wedding), ELLIOT WOOD (Storked), SEON WILLIAMS (White Fever) and TEO VERGARA (Converted!).
Don’t miss your chance to see this bizarre and inspiring slice of Australian queer history come to life on stage in what is set to be a massive Midsumma highlight.
Praise for Ballard’s play #Kwanda: “a rather brilliant political satire…will have you laughing till it hurts ★★★★½ ” – Cameron Woodhead, The Age