Adam Hills has achieved international acclaim as one of the world’s best stand up comics. His combination of positive uplifting comedy and rampant spontaneity have seen him receive a swag of awards, glowing reviews and a legion of fans around the planet.

Adam’s solo shows are established highlights at the Adelaide Fringe, the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and the Edinburgh Fringe – where he regularly sells over 10,000 tickets in the month. He is the only Australian comedian to have performed at the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, and is a regular star of the Cat Laughs Kilkenny Comedy Festival in Ireland, and The Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.

Adam’s 2001, 2002 and 2003 shows were all nominated for the prestigious Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival. His 2002 show, Happy Feet, took out the inaugural Best Of The Fest Award in Edinburgh, and his follow up show Cut Loose won the Radio Forth Award for Best Comedy. Adam has also won a Chortle Award for Best Compere in the UK, and his 2007 show Joymonger won a Helpmann Award for Best Comedy Performance in Australia.

In Australia, Adam is also known as the host of the wildly successful music quiz show Spicks and Specks on ABC-TV, alongside team captains Alan Brough and Myf Warhurst. With viewing figures of over 1.2 million people a week, the show has received numerous AFI and Logie Award nominations, while Adam has been nominated for no less than four Logie Awards – including the coveted Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality – and won GQ Magazine’s TV Personality of the Year Award in 2007.

In 2007/08, Adam, Alan and Myf took The Spicks and Speck-tacular stage show on a live tour of Australia, performing to over 75,000 fans, and even appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. The same year, Adam notched up another career highlight as he hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Paralympic Games, in a broadcast screened throughout Australia, South Africa and Hong Kong.

Adam’s UK TV appearances include Mock The Week, The Charlotte Church Show and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, as well as having his own half-hour special on The Paramount Comedy Channel. He hosted two series of Four At The Store for BBC Radio 4, and co-presented We Say Tomay-to on Radio 2.

Adam has contributed articles to Subaru Magazine, Inside Cricket, and was a regular contributor to BBC’s Ouch! Website. He has also acted on stage in Die On Your Feet at the 2005 Melbourne Comedy Festival, and played the title role in Breaker Morant at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2007.

Press

‘… naughty, twinkly-eyed Hills is always joyous company… another life-affirming two hours that won’t fail to bring a tear to your eye and a spring to your step’ **** – The Metro

‘If you cannot enjoy Adam Hills you cannot have a pulse. Five Stars’ – The Scotsman

‘Hills delivers stand up so effortlessly brilliant you wonder why some comedians even get out of bed’ – The Guardian

‘Hills’s wit is incisively dry and sharp and his observations are bitingly precise’ – Sunday Herald Sun

‘… a highly accomplished, likeable and very funny stand up… get ready to belly-laugh’ – Heat

‘Life-affirming, laugh-affirming comedy at its best’ **** – Evening Standard

“Celia Pacquola is Adam Hills with ovaries, using her magnetic charisma to draw audiences in to a warmly uplifting show that’s as inspiring as it is hilarious.  I’d defy anyone not to leave… just a little more in love with life – and with her – than before.” -  Chortle.co.uk

In 2011, Celia Pacquola also had a starring role as EJ in the successful ABC TV black comedy series Laid (written by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher).

Quotes about Celia Pacquola

“Pacquola has a well-established comedy career… here in her first series, she proves to be an instinctive and deadpan funny actress.” – The Age, Green Guide

She has also appeared as herself on shows including Good News Week, Spicks and Specks, Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight, Rove, The 7pm Project, US talk show, Chelsea Lately with Chelsea Handler and The Rob Brydon Show on BBC1 (UK ).

As a writer, Celia has contributed to publications such as The Age newspaper and to various radio projects, including at the BBC in the UK.

“Celia (Pacquola) and Toby (Truslove) are both improv performers and they ad-lib a lot of their lines, they’re brilliant.” – The Mercury

Television

2012       LAID 2 ( 6 part black comedy )ABC TV- lead actor

2011       The Rob Brydon Show BBC 1(UK)- stand-up spot

2011       Show and Tell with Chris Addison, Avalon Television, guest spot

2011       Adam Hills in Gordon Street Tonight ABCTV – correspondent

2011       Chelsea Lately, E En

Awards:

2009       The Age Critics Award for Best Australian Show, Am I Strange?

2008       Celia Pacquola was the winner Best Comedy Melbourne Fringe Festival solo show, Am I Strange?

Aussie Damian Clark has become one of the hottest tickets in comedy clubs and festivals. His show at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe won the Amused Moose People’s Champion Award & the same year won the Best Show Award at theNeath Comedy Festival in Wales. 2019 saw ‘Damo’ tour this show all over Ireland, the UK & Europe plus guest spots in the US.

Clark has been featured in Comedy Channel’s Damo Does Edinburgh, Irish TV’s Republic of Telly, The Savage Eye, Katherine Lynch’s Wonder Women, The Apprentice: You’re Fired!, Comedy Central’s Seann Walsh World,  plus wrote & co-starred in RTE2’s I Dare Ya! which became the highest rating Irish comedy debut to date.

Damian’s 2020 tour dates are out now with more dates & venues being added regularly. For bookings & info go to the GIGS page. See him when you get the chance!

QUOTES about Damian Clark

“A relentless onslaught of crippling laughs.” - The Skinny

“Hilariously daft…unforgettable stuff” - Chortle

“Overall, gave the best performance of the night‘ – The Dubliner

“There is barely a bad word to say about Damian Clark” distinctive and possessing a comic talent beyond his years, both biological and mental” – Chortle

TV IRELAND

RTE1
Tubridy Tonight (Featured Comedian)

RTE2
I Dare Ya (Creator & Co-Host)
Republic of Telly (Featured Comedian)
The Cafe (Guest Comedian)
Katherine Lynch’s Wonder Women (Played Sheila’s Boyfriend ‘Jason Dunne’)
The Lucy Kennedy Show (Comedian Panelist)
TTV (Featured Comedian)

TV3
Ireland’s Richest Celebrities (Guest Comedian)
Ireland’s Top 20 Christmas Toys (Guest Comedian)
Top Celebrity Diets (Guest Comedian)

TV AUSTRALIA

THE COMEDY CHANNEL
Damo Does Edinburgh (Creator & Presenter)

CHANNEL 10
Rove Live (Featured Comedian)

ABC
Stand-Up! (Featured Comedian)

CHANNEL 31
Champagne Comedy (Featured Comedian)

AWARDS

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Mossehead Award
Perth Comedy Fringe Award
Battle of The Axe People’s Choice Award

“had shoulders jack hammering with laughter” – Adelaide Advertiser

A powerhouse of performance, Jacques Barrett has been carving up stages with his brand of insightful observational and impressionistic comedy for seven years now.

On the forefront of Sydney’s rapidly expanding comedy scene, Jacques is among a talented bunch of rising Australian stars who’s unique brand of performance take a crowd on a journey they never thought possible. A style of comedy that is at once original but widely accessible, he can bend to fit absolutely any audience. A bankable act that never leaves a crowd disappointed.

His other credits include producer and co-host of 2day FM’s late night comedy show “the Wagon” with fellow comedian Jim Rochford.  This comedy duo took to channel 9′s late night gem “Ralph TV” as field reporters bringing the comedy to any manly topic they were given.

The turning point in his career was being recognised as one of the most promising young comics in Australia with The Melbourne International Comedy Festival engaging Jacques Barrett for their showcase “Comedy Zone” at the 2008 Festival. Each year the festival will hand-pick 4 of the best young comics in Australia and produce a show, Jacques Barrett was picked as the closing act. This was followed with a five-week stint on the Comedy Festival Roadshow.

In 2009 Jacques Barrett moved up the ranks but it’s been 2010 that has seen Jacques make the transition to headliner in the major clubs around Australia. He has a reputation for reliability in the role as the guy who always flies and never dies. With comedy awards garnered on Channel 9′s “The Footy Show”, Wollongong International Comedy Festival and RottoFest Comedy and Short-Film Festival on Rottnest Island WA.

With great versatility in his skills and performance he’s one of the most sort after comics in the Australian comedy scene.  Catch Jacques Barrett now to say you saw him when…

His confrontational style has had audiences in Canada, South Africa, the UK and across Asia and the rest of Europe in stitches.

Jim gets away with jokes that most comedians wouldn’t touch due to his ability to both charm and offend the crowd through equal measures.

In 2005 Jim wowed audiences at The Montreal ’Just for Laughs’ Festival where he was performing in the highly acclaimed Nasty Show.

Jim garnered one of the biggest press articles at the festival and was also moved above 2 of America’s cult comics as neither could follow his storming performances. In 2007 he was asked back to the festival this time to do a solo week, which sold out every night.

In 2006 Jim made his return to the Edinburgh Festival with his solo show titled The Second Coming which not only received rave reviews and numerous other press articles about his show, it sold out the whole run and he also managed to wind up Christian Voice as well. Hoorah!

In 2007 Jim’s Edinburgh festival show 30 was one off the hottest shows off the festival now earning him endless praise. The success of this show took Jim touring in America were he even supported Dennis Leary!

Its not all about filth with Jim though, he is also in constant demand for numerous TV shows. He’s managed to get himself on; Comedy Cuts, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Heaven & Earth, If.ComEddies, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, The History of Offensive Humour, Comedy Blue and even performing a clean set on The World Stands Up and Edinburgh and Beyond for none other than Comedy Central.

Most recently he began setting the US on fire and landed his own HBO special Jim Jefferies: I Swear To God, so it seems that with his roguish charm and effortless wit, Jim Jefferies is taking over the world!

Matthew Hardy is a respected Australian author and comedian, with English citizenship who has been living in London since early 2011, and who has already appeared on Newsnight, where he had Kirsty Wark in stitches.

Once settled in England Matthew quickly became the Co-Writer of Shappi Khorsandi’s acclaimed Radio 4 series ‘Shappi Talk’ (‘Fresh and incisive, but warmly inclusive comedy’ – Radio Times) and has also recently written TV stand-up in 2011 for Andi Osho on ‘Stand Up For The Week’ and has just completed a 24 date tour supporting Irishman Ed Byrne across Scotland.

In 2011, during Comic Relief’s ’24 Hour Panel People’ extravaganza, Matthew warmed up audiences for 12 hours straight, for the likes of QI, Mock The Week, and 8 Out Of 10 Cats.

Matthew supported Shappi Khorsandi on her national UK tour in 2011

“In heaven, everyone will be as naturally funny as Matthew Hardy”
- Time Out (UK)

Matthew made his Edinburgh Festival debut in 2010 with his extremely unique show about his love for the Willy Wonka films – ‘Willy Wonka Explained: The Veruca Salt Sessions’ – in which Matthew enticed that little brat, Veruca Salt (“I want it NOW Daddy!”) from the original ’70′s Wonka film (now the all-growed-up actress Julie Dawn Cole) to co-star as a washed-up former child star (ie: her actual self). Previously he had performed this show in 2009 at The Melbourne International Comedy Festival where Julie Dawn Cole flew out to perform in it.

“It’s high-concept, hilarious and heart-warming.” – Metro

“A damn good show! Bravo. Dramatic & funny in constantly surprising ways. Highly recommended”  - Arthur Smith

Previously, Matthew was a member of the BAFTA winning writing team (which included Ricky Gervais), for ITV’s local and internationally successful Baby Cow production, ‘The Sketch Show’, starring Lee Mack & Tim Vine (‘The best English Sketch Show for a decade’ – Time Out).

As a result of the BAFTA, Matthew was signed to write for Kelsey Grammar (‘Frasier’) in the US

In 2005, Matthew had his debut novel, ‘Saturday Afternoon Fever’ published by HarperCollins Australia. This was a rites of passage story of a suburban Australian loser in love, who dreamed of being a sports star (‘A laugh-out-loud depiction of childhood which reads as a cross between Stephen King’s ‘Stand By Me’ and ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ – The Sydney Morning Herald). Matthew’s book quickly hit the best-seller lists and stayed there for months. The book is now in its 5th reprint, after being aquired by Random House.

At the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Matthew performed an adaptation of the book, directed by Tes Lyssiotis, which received rave reviews (“Hardy is a rare character who is both endearing and painfully unsentimental…a wonderful show” – ABC Radio National).

Matthew was a writer for The Age broadsheet in Melbourne, and was named Best New Comic at the Hilton Hotel, before becoming a columnist for Australia’s biggest-selling daily; The Herald Sun

In 2007/2008 Matthew hosted his own Tonight Show (TFI Friday-style) called ‘The Big Schmooze’, on which Matthew was a quick-witted solo host at the desk to visiting stars such as Chris Rock, John Travolta, Coldplay and Green Day, among many others.

As a solo act, Sammy J has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Montreal Just For Laughs, and throughout Australia as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) Roadshow and Gala. He has also appeared in millions of living rooms courtesy of Spicks and Specks, Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation, and Good News Week. His live albums are occasionally listened to and someone has almost certainly purchased a copy of his DVD, 58 Kilograms of Pure Entertainment (Madman Entertainment).

At the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe, Sammy starred alongside Adam Hills, Brendan Burns and Rhys Derby in the Comedian’s Theatre Company production of Breaker Morant, playing the role of Major Thomas in ‘an exceptionally strong and nuanced performance’ (Festmag).

In 2008, a collaboration with puppeteer Heath McIvor led to the dark musical comedy Sammy J in the Forest of Dreams. The show won the Age Critics’ Award in Melbourne, and went on to receive five-star reviews in Edinburgh and London’s West End.

As “Sammy J & Randy”, the duo then created Ricketts Lane, a live sitcom which took out Australia’s most prestigious comedy prize – the Barry Award for Most Outstanding Show at the 2010 MICF. From there they played the Sydney Opera House; headlined a Montreal Gala; sold out in Edinburgh; and gained a national following on the TV sketch show Good News World (Network Ten). At some point they expect people will stop caring for their skinny-man-purple-puppet shenanigans, but until then, they’ll keep writing shows.

When he’s not prancing about on stage, Sammy J regularly co-hosts The Conversation Hour with Jon Faine on ABC radio, and writes for The Age newspaper. He is also currently an Ambassador for Big Brothers Big Sisters, a national organisation that matches volunteer mentors with young people in need of guidance and friendship.

Sammy J has been writing comedy songs since his schooldays, when he appeared shirtless on Hey Hey it’s Saturday singing about life as a nerd. Having directed and appeared in the Melbourne University Law Revue, he finally took the advice of a frustrated lecturer and dropped his law degree in favour of the comedy circuit. He went on to win the Best Newcomer award at the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

But despite all this, Sammy J’s greatest project remains unfinished. At the 2008 Melbourne Fringe Festival, he created the ridiculously ambitious 50 Year Show, a comedy spectacular that will continue every five years and finish in 2058. Book early to avoid disappointment.

QUOTES:

“One truly spectacular hour of comedy” – Chortle, Edinburgh

“A beautiful show from an endlessly creative talent” – Time Out, London

“Sammy J’s narratives are rich in imagery and wordplay, and his command of language and cadence is superb” – Sydney Morning Herald

“Witty, talented and possessed of incredible timing and memory” – The Age, Melbourne

“Whiplash smart and laugh out loud funny, he is already a Fringe legend” – The Herald, Edinburgh

“Gleefully raucous, meticulously crazy, charmingly revolting, achingly funny” – Beat Magazine, Melbourne

Heavy Rock bands Slaughter Lord, Mortal Sin, Nazxul, and Primordial’s losses are the comedy world’s gain. Steve is now widely regarded one of the most esteemed and exciting stand up comedians working on the UK and International circuit. With a laconic and deceptively laid back style, Steve’s musings on life and the universe are far reaching. A chain smoking, beer swilling, plain talking Australian, Steve’s comfortable operating in the realms of such familiar subjects as drugs, sex, and pornos but his real passion is the topical, political and intellectual – delivered in a frequently provocative manner.

Operating on many levels Steve’s eloquently argued points are always passionate and delivered with blistering conviction. His eclectic mix of quirky anecdotes and witty one-liners has earned him legions of fans across the U.K., as well as recent performances on BBC2’s “The Live Floor Show,” Paramount’s “The Comedy Store” and Comedy Central’s “The World Stands Up!”. He has appeared all over Australia, won the first

ever Green Faces Comedy Competition 1997, appeared on Channel 9′s footy show, Won Australian Comedian of the year 1998, hosted MTV in Australia, appeared at almost every international comedy festival in the world and even supported Mr Methane on tour.

Chatting with the casual confidence of a comic at home in front of a crowd Steve Hughes’ acute observations on British life are packed with conviction and passion about stuff that really matters to him. Steve’s philosophy – The idea of multiculturalism is meaningless, when there is in reality only one culture: ‘People’.

QUOTES

“One of the best hours of stand up at the fringe…acutely observed and cutting bone-deep. Steve delves into gutsier territory – racism, terrorism, homophobia – with an honesty and openness rarely seen among comics. His insights are spot-on, his opinions are intelligent and his jokes are top class.” – The Guardian

“Mark Thomas and Rob Newman have proven how effective comedy can be as a mouthpiece for such issues. Hughes knocks them into a cocked hat. In summary: Hughes is gold.” – Metro

“Intelligently critical of US-backed Israeli foreign policy…and very funny too.  Hughes might look like a Motorhead roadie but under the hair there’s a keen satirical brain at work.” – London Evening Standard.

“After an ingenious segment in which he proves with absolutely faultless logic that gay men are straighter than straight men, he chuckles as some bemused looks in the audience and says: “just getting your minds nice and wet for later on – this is going to get wacked.” And wacked it gets. Hughes launches into an absolutely withering demolition of the thinking behind the War on Terror. He’s not the first comedian to tackle this subject by any means, but I’ve never heard it chewed over with such devastating rigour.” – The Scotsman

“Invigorating…his bullshit-free take on the world is compelling and pungent”. – Edinburgh Guide

“This is exactly what political comedy should be intelligent, provocative, profound, and topped off with good, solid gags. See him while it’s still legal.” – Chortle

“You get the feeling Steve Hughes is on the cusp of greatness. There is also the feeling that, if said greatness was achieved, he would probably tell it to f**k off. You will not see a more hilarious and passionate act at any festival.” – Hairline.org.uk

“A laconic, and laid back performer, Hughes’ quietly confident persona demonstrates a man at ease with his material. Think Boothby Graffoe…only Australian. Beneath the easy-going exterior, though, there’s fine comic work being done, as Hughes tosses out elegant gags by the bucketload…a charming delivery” – Chortle

“Steve Hughes will rock your world” – Three Weeks

Their Four Chord Song is one of the highest rated comedy video of all time on YouTube, and has received over 20 million hits. They have made TV appearances in Australia, the UK and Sweden and their albums “Scissors, Paper, ROCK!” and “Infinity Rock Explosion” and DVD “The Axis of Awesome Live” are hits with audiences worldwide.

They recently picked up the Time Out Award for Best Australian Act at the Sydney Comedy Festival, and they are also recipients of the prestigious Moosehead Award for their first ever Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, “The Axis of Awesome Comeback Spectacular”. Their most recent show “Songs in the Key of Awesome” had it’s Australian premiere at The Sydney Opera house. The Axis of Awesome are currently touring the United States.

They leave men laughing and women gasping (and also laughing), and before long you’ll be laughing and/or gasping, depending on your gender.

The Axis of Awesome are:

Jordan Raskopoulos: Lead vocals. Star of stage and screen, Jordan is best known for his work on “The Ronnie Johns Half Hour” on Channel 10. His memorable characters and humorous lines were both memorable and humorous. Currently a National Theatresports Champion, Jordan was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his one-man show, “The Adventures of the Man With the Dominant Claw”. Jordan enjoys Snickers bars and the music of David Bowie.

Benny Davis: Keyboard, vocals. A classically trained musician, Benny brings some class to the Axis. And a portable keyboard. As an original member of the sketch comedy troupe “The Delusionists”, Benny was a stand out in their 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Show. A regular cast member of almost every improvised comedy show in Sydney, Benny is a virtuoso on the keyboard. Benny enjoys Super Mario Galaxy on Nintendo Wii and the music of Billy Joel.

Lee Naimo: Guitar, way way back up vocals. One of Sydney’s best improvisers, Lee has made stuff up while touring Australia and internationally. Along with Jordan, Lee is a current National Theatresports Champion, and he is co-creator of the hit live show, “Scrabble Unscripted”, which was a sold-out success at both the Melbourne and Sydney Cracker Comedy Festivals in 2006 and 2007. Lee enjoys sunshine and the music of Hannah Montanna.

Within 18 months he was headlining regularly at the Comedy Store and touring with the likes of Jimeoin, Ben Elton and David Strassman. His television career also blossomed, performing on shows like The Midday Show, Tonight Live, and Hey Hey Saturday. After an acclaimed visit to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1996, Trevor began working extensively in England and Europe. He is the first Australian comic to have performed in the arctic circle, and has performed in France, Holland, Scandinavia, Hong Kong and China.

His UK TV Credits include Live at Jongleurs ( four series), the Stand Up Show (BBC1) and amongst his radio credits is Stand Up Two for BBC Radio 2.

QUOTES:

“”One of those once in a lifetime finds” – London Evening Standard

Was that you getting all those laughs” – Ben Elton

“My all time favourite funny man!, Superb totally unique” – Rick Wakeman

“Shines Like A Diamond” – Edinburgh Evening News