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

BOOK NOW! 

After three years of total sell-out shows – including last year’s packed-out Comedy Theatre – co-hosts Wil Anderson & Tom Ballard are back with the hottest ticket of the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

This annual benefit for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre has become a must-see event, raising serious cash and even more laughs. And yes, it sells out every single year – so don’t wait.

For one early-afternoon only, DON’T MISS this special line-up of A-grade comedy excellence, featuring the best comedians in the world donating their time and talents to support the ASRC’s vital work: providing material and legal assistance to people seeking asylum and refugees, and fighting back against Australia’s cruel immigration policies.

Most of the line-up will be kept super-secret until the day. Previous years have featured the likes of Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor, Sara Pascoe, Lloyd Langford, Kitty Flanagan, Daniel Kitson, Sam Campbell, Geraldine Hickey, David O’Doherty, Guy Montgomery and more – the only way to find who’s taking to the stage this time around is to grab yourself a ticket. 

So come along and laugh good, feel good, and do some good.

Co-hosted by Wil Anderson & Tom Ballard.

You can donate directly to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre via this link.

Kindly supported by Melbourne International Comedy Festival

BOOK NOW! 

From COVID to capitalism, watch Tom Ballard try to fix everything by yelling his horrible jokes in a beautiful venue.

“One of the most fearless and hilarious voices in Australian comedy” – Wil Anderson

“An hour of absolutely hilarious white-hot rage. ★★★★★ ” – Time Out “A true barbarian.” – Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun

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