Comedy

Are You Pulling My Leg?

FRIDAY 9 AUGUST, 8PM

Accessible Arts and Crips & Creeps in association with Arts on Tour & HPAC present Are you Pulling My Leg?

Showcasing some of Australia’s funniest comedians with disability or chronic illness, this raucous accessible comedy event boasts a line-up of award-winning performers with entertaining and uncensored insights into disability and oh-so-much more!

With razor-sharp wit and undeniable charm, the Are You Pulling My Leg? line-up brings to the stage hilarious and uncensored insights into disability. From awkward encounters to side-splitting observations that cut to the quick, no subject is off-limits. Venturing much further than disability, their quick quips highlight the many facets of their lives, relationships, experiences and personalities.

Discover for yourself that disabled comedians are just as funny as non-disabled comedians! The biggest joke is that they don’t always get equal access to gigs, so support this show, have a laugh and help make a difference.

It’s that easy!

The comedians bringing you the laughs are:

Madeleine Stewart – MC and Performer
Disability advocate and award-winning comedian Madeleine Stewart charms audiences everywhere with a sweet demeanour, veiling razor-sharp wit. You may have seen Madeleine perform with Adam Hills, Rove McManus, or Reuben Kaye or caught her episode on Dylan Alcott’s Listen-Able podcast. Her viral sketch on Marriage Equality for ABC iview reached 2.7mil views on insta, showcased her ground-breaking exploration of disability and Centrelink.

Practicing what she preaches, Madeleine won the AMP Tomorrowmaker award for her production of inclusive, accessible comedy shows- specifically Crips & Creeps and her short film ‘Inspire Me’ has just won Best Documentary at the Australian Independent Film Festival (AIFF).

Fresh off the Comedy Festival circuit, Madeleine is currently touring her accessible lineup show ‘Are You Pulling My Leg?’ across Australia in 2024. Madeleine is a refreshing and exciting voice to the comedy scene…. and oohhh sooo inspiring.

Bec Charlwood – Headline Act
Bec Charlwood is a comedian, podcaster and writer. She has opened for big names such as Alan Carr, Wil Anderson, Joanne McNally, Jay Pharoah (SNL) and Josh Thomas. She's appeared on The Project and as a panelist on the most recent season of Spicks and Specks, which she was also a writer on. She is currently a host on Triple J and released her most recent special 'Bipolar Baby' on Youtube this year all about being diagnosed with Bipolar Type II and the parts of mental illness that you probably won't hear about on RUOk? day.

She's performed at the Sydney Opera House, Splendour In The Grass and The Enmore Theatre many times. And she's very proud you made it all the way to the end of her bio, it was really hard to write all this bragging in the third person.

Oliver Hunter – Support Act
Living with cerebral palsy and using a wheelchair, Oliver has a different view of the world around him (literally- he’s lower). Performing stand up comedy- although he’s never actually stood up- Oliver has been cracking jokes about disability for over 8 years. Entertaining crowds from all major cities in Australia to Dallas and L.A in the United States.

While not wearing his comedian hat. Oliver is a disability awareness consultant and advocate, keynote speaker and podcast host. Always aiming to breakdown barriers and improve the lives of all people living with a disability. In other words: “the guy you get when you can’t afford Dylan Alcott”.

Robyn Reynolds – Support Act
Robyn Reynolds (UK) is an award-nominated comedian and writer. Bubbly and loveable, in a few short years Robyn has become one of the freshest new voices in the Australian comedy scene. As heard on ABC Radio Sydney, and as seen on SBS Viceland’s The Swiping Game. Robyn has been nominated for Best Comedy at Sydney Fringe Festival, Newcastle Fringe Festival, and was recently awarded a Judge's Pick at the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Bea Barbara-Scurla – Support Act
Béatrice (Bea) Barbeau-Scurla is a writer, producer and comedian based in Melbourne. Her debut feature film, Suburban Wildlife won second runner-up audience award at the 2019 Sydney Film Festival and was long-listed for an AACTA Award. As a comedian, Béatrice has performed all over Sydney and Melbourne and has opened for fantastic acts such as Geraldine Hickey (The Gala) and Wil Anderson (Gruen Transfer). 

In 2016 Béatrice and Imogen McCluskey co-wrote the feature film, Suburban Wildlife which then successfully crowdfunded 4,000 AUD and went into production. The film has screened in California, Italy, London and Sydney and has garnered critical acclaim.

Béatrice has produced and written a number of short films. She was development producer for a comedic web series funded by Screen Australia Generate Development entitled CHEN PM 3010 created by and starring comedian and TV personality, Aaron Chen.

She has worked for production companies such as Princess Pictures, CJZ, Easy Tiger, BlinkTV, Roadshow Rough Diamond and Matchbox Pictures and was recently a contributing writer on ABC’s Question Everything with Wil Anderson. In 2023 she debuted her first ever one-woman comedy show “HOUSE” which was developed in conjunction with PACT’s Centre for Emerging Artists and the Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund, about the selling of her childhood home.

Warning:

Coarse language, sexual references, drug references, adult content and dangerously good-looking people.

This project is supported by Arts on Tour, the Australian Government, Creative Australia, NSW Government and Creative Victoria.

Access & Inclusion: This is a COVIDsafe, accessible and inclusive event taking place on Gunditjmara Country. If you need assistance at the venue, please let us know when booking your ticket or contact us directly.

*This is an OVER 18's event

Image description: Photo of comedian Madeleine Stewart against a pink background. She is wearing black overalls and her long blonde hair is being comically blown upwards.

Photo credit – Monica Pronk

Accessibility Information:

This show is wheelchair accessible, live captioned and can be Auslan interpreted to help everyone get the punchlines. Auslan interpretation is available by selecting the 'Auslan' ticket option below. Please note that we require at least 72 hours’ notice for Auslan requests.

By selecting the 'Auslan' ticket option HPAC will know that an Auslan interpreter has been requested. If you have any questions please call the Box Office - 5573 0429, Email your question or pop in to the box office to ask us in-person. Our staff will also be able to advise where the best seats are.

This is a general admission event - on entering the auditorium you can choose where you'd like to sit.

Tickets:
Auslan (if you'd like an interpreter) $44.90
Adult $44.90
Senior $44.90
Concession $44.90
Groups of 6+ $39.90

• Comedy - Stand Up
• $44.90
• 9 August 2024
• 80 minutes
• 20:00
• Hamilton Performing Arts Centre
• The Handbury Auditorium
• Must be 18+