This raucous accessible comedy event boasts a line-up of award-winning performers with entertaining and uncensored insights into disability.
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.
This thoroughly entertaining comedy show breaks through the barrier to enhance access for the performers as well as audiences. It’s Auslan-interpreted and live captioned so that everyone can get the punchlines and, hilarious jokes aside, at its heart this show is about access and inclusion.
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!
LINEUP
MC: Madeleine Stewart
Support acts: Elliot McLaren, Loz Booth, Alexandra Hudson
Headliner: Jamal Abdul
MC - MADELEINE STEWART:
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. Madeleine is a refreshing and exciting voice to the comedy scene…. and ohhh sooo inspiring.
“Personal, inviting and hot… Could easily lose your breath from laughing” - Theatre Travels
“A refreshing and exciting voice to the comedy circuit” - My Melbourne Arts
“Thought provoking and eye opening” - The Age
"A non-conventional, yet entirely relatable culture with Crips & Creeps, one with a satisfying undercurrent of support and positivity"
"Crips & Creeps holds a fresh and unique position in the modern Comedy scene. By many accounts Crips & Creeps has evolved past its core concept as an accessible stand-up gig, by developing a new niche of live comedy."
Theatre Travels
SUPPORT ACT: ELLIOT McLAREN
Elliot McLaren is a Queer, chronically ill, Maori comedian based in Sydney, he delivers “darkly funny and immersive comedy that will entertain, horrify and educate in equal meaures”.
He is a 2023 RAW Comedy NSW State Finalist and his Solo show, Memoirs of A Meth Head… Chapter One (dir. Steph Broadbridge), toured in 2024 with brilliant response. Elliot is truly unique and one to watch in the comedy scene.
SUPPORT ACT: ALEXANDRA HUDSON
Alexandra Hudson shares entertaining little musings about her experiences as a disabled woman and her observations about the mostly foreign non-disabled world she lives in.
Alexandra took out joint first place in the National Final of the Raw Comedy Competition at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 2022.
Alexandra performed in So You Think You're Funny at Edinburgh Fringe in 2022 and was a member of Comedy Zone at the MICF in 2023 and performs all over Australia.
Alexandra debuted her first solo "Making Lemonade" in 2024.
SUPPORT ACT: LOZ BOOTH
Loz Booth is an international comedian, accomplished content creator, writer, and devoted mother of two boys residing in Sydney. Last year Loz showcased her comedic talents at the Sydney Fringe Festival (2023) and has since become a regular presence in various comedy venues across Sydney. Her influence extends beyond Australia, as she presented her one-woman show in Covent Garden, London. Beyond her success on stage, Loz's engaging #mumlife content has amassed an impressive 30 million views across multiple platforms, leading to her recognition as a finalist in the UK's Funny Women awards.
In addition to her achievements in comedy, Loz has pursued studies in screenwriting. Her long-term vision involves contributing to the evolution of the Australian screen by developing narratives that provide a nuanced portrayal of "disability" characters in three dimensions. Loz Booth stands as a fierce up-and-coming comic, seamlessly blending humor and a commitment to challenging societal norms through her craft.
HEADLINER - JAMAL ABDUL
Born into an ethnically diverse family to his Italian mother and Arab father Jamal, at three months old was diagnosed with a rare eye condition which is the cause of his blindness. From the very beginning He was an outsider observing the world and the people around him from a perspective not many would share with him. It’s Jamal’s I’m not weird, your weird attitude that makes his stand-up comedy performances so unique.
Jamal began making waves in the Sydney comedy scene after winning the Stand Up and Be Counted Comedy Competition in 2017. He then became a RAW Comedy State Finalist in 2018 further legitimising himself as a Sydney comedy mainstay.
Now, a regular at the Sydney Comedy Store and Happy Endings Comedy Club Jamal has begun to attract a diverse audience with his straight out style of stand-up comedy.
He has since gone on to self-produce his own sell out shows at the Sydney Comedy Festival and has been selected to tour around Australia in the Are You Pulling My Leg Comedy Showcase produced by Accessible Arts.
TICKETS
General Admission $40 + booking fee
Lake Mac Arts Member $36 + booking fee
Membership cards need to be presented at event entry. Not a member? Find out more about Lake Mac Arts Memberships Lake Mac Arts membership - Lake Macquarie Arts
Tickets available at the door subject to availability.
Please note there is no need to print your tickets for this event, staff can provide an electronic check in at the door
EVENT INFORMATION
Show - 7:30pm
Running time - 80 minutes plus 15 minute interval
This performance is Auslan-interpreted and live captioned
Strictly 18 years + contains coarse language, sexual & drug references, adult content & dangerously good-looking people.
VENUE INFORMATION
SEATING
All seating is general admission.
COMPANION CARDS
Warners Bay Theatre accepts Companion Card bookings, please call 02 49210400 to book.
At the time of the ticket purchase, cardholders can provide their valid Companion Card number and expiry date for the ticket purchase. Alternatively, the card may be presented in person at the Box Office. Cardholders purchase one ticket and will be issued with one complimentary ticket for their essential support companion.
PARKING
The carpark at the rear of the theatre can be accessed via the John Street entrance, with limited on street parking available.
There are two permanent accessible parking spots are in the car park behind the theatre via the John Street entry. Three additional temporary spots will be allocated for this performance.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Warners Bay Theatre can be accessed via a ramp on Lake St and flat entry once inside the building. The venue has LH and RH accessible toilets.
HEARING LOOP
Set hearing loop to T (Telecoil) - coverage between stage and tiered seating.
DRINKS AND SNACKS
There will be a bar open with wine, beer and snacks available to purchase using EFTPOS only.
Learn more about Lake Mac: Visit Lake Macquarie | Love the Lake
This event may be photographed and filmed and your image could be used in advertising and promotion by Lake Macquarie City Council. Should you wish to not be photographed or filmed please advise event organisers on entry at the event.
Are You Pulling My Leg? is developed by Crips and Creeps, providing an inclusive space for comedians and audiences.
This performance is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.