Kingston Arts presents Comedy at the Shirley on January 31
Sammy J, Dane Simpson and more
The Shirley Burke Theatre kicks off its 2025 season with a night of outstanding live comedy, Friday January 31st. Curated by veteran comedy programmer Janet A McLeod, Kingston Arts is proud to present a lineup of established and emerging talent from Australia and beyond, including Dane Simpson, Sammy J, Robyn Reynolds (UK), and Gabby Anderson (NZ). Comedy at the Shirley is thrilled to bring some of the finest comedians to Melbourne’s South-East with guests having appeared on Have You Been Paying Attention?, Thank God You’re Here, Spicks & Specks, and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala.
Dane Simpson
The undisputed king of Wagga Wagga! A masterful storyteller and infectiously upbeat presence, Dane’s stories about his hilarious family are legendary. As seen on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Thank God You’re Here, Deadly Funny, and Fisk. WINNER: Best Comedy Perth Fringe World Weekly Awards 2023 & 2024
Sammy J
Award-winning comedian, writer, composer and nerd. Supercharged with confidence and bursting with talent, Sammy has performed in Edinburgh, Montreal and London, had a sitcom on Netflix, created satirical sketches for ABC TV, and has recently wrapped up 5 years hosting the breakfast show on ABC Radio Melbourne. In short: he’s a national treasure.
Gabby Anderson (NZ)
This very talented and energetic Kiwi guarantees to win hearts with her warm personality, joke-filled stories and quirky observations. A comedian, improviser, MC and teacher, Gabby is destined to become a household name and a world class entertainer. Bonus – you get to boast “I saw her first” to your friends.
Robyn Reynolds (UK)
Hailing from the UK and now based in Melbourne, Robyn Reynolds is a rising star known for her sharp humour and candid storytelling. Laugh-out-loud funny, charmingly frank and armed with solid punchlines, it’s no surprise that Robyn won the award for Comedy New Work at the 2024 Melbourne Fringe. Comedy at the Shirley will return regularly throughout 2025, with the March program set to feature Tony Martin, Annie Louey and Jude Perl.
About Kingston Arts
Only 15km from the city, Kingston Arts presents a contemporary cultural program with an engaged arts community. Proudly supporting new works in performance and visual arts through grants and performance opportunities and educating through enriching programs, Kingston Arts fosters the next generation of artists and arts workers.
Kingston Arts Centre is a venue dedicated towards developing and presenting a diverse program of art and culture within the City of Kingston and the southern metropolitan region of Melbourne. The historic building has a stunning architectural style that tells the story of its history.
Shirley Burke Theatre is a character-filled boutique theatre of 167 seats in the heart of Parkdale. This theatre venue is perfect for performances, presentations and film screenings.
Kingston Arts offers an impressive array of indoor spaces available for hire, spanning three prominent arts venues.