Bios

Scott Abbot

Scott Abbot is an exciting new political comedian who is in no way related to his namesake Tony (as far as he knows).  He has twice been NSW finalist in Triple J's Raw Comedy, and appeared in the Sydney Comedy Store's "Young Guns 2010" showcase. He spent many nights in Sydney pubs educating the local drunks on the delicate ironies of Australian politics before Political Asylum saved him from an imminent glassing and gave his brand of comedy a home. In 2011 his debut solo show "Democracy: Not angry, just disappointed" opened to strong crowds and positive reviews at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Links: Scott's Facebook profile.









Jon Brooks

Jon Brooks is a uniquely Australian political comedian. Intelligent and opinionated, yet self-deprecating and accessible, he’s been described as “the child of a drunken tryst between Rodney Rude and Germaine Greer” and “the balance between hope and a shocking warning to us all”. A former journalist and political staffer, Brooks is based in Adelaide because the beer is “heaps gooderer” and his band, The Guantanamo Bay City Rollers, is based there.

2011:
- WINNER Best New Comedian Adelaide Fringe 2011
2010:
- The First Three Up Against the Wall, Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
- Sargasm, Adelaide Fringe - debut solo season at the Rhino Room, earning rave reviews.
- The Best of Adelaide Showcase, Adelaide Fringe
- The Adelaide Comedy Great Debate, Adelaide Fringe.
- Finalist: Best Emerging Comedian, Adelaide Fringe.
2009:
- Taking the Piss, Adelaide Fringe.
- Raw Comedy SA Finalist.
- Contributing writer, News Desk - Rove (Ch 10)
- Winner, Adelaide Comedy Justin Hamilton “Aching Back” Writer of the Year.
2008:
- Raw comedy SA Finalist.

Links: Facebook profile, The Guantanamo Bay City Rollers.


Toby Halligan


Toby Halligan is one of Australia's most exciting young comedians and improvisers. A NSW Raw Comedy semi-finalist, and winner of the Worlds Debating Comedy Award in 2003, he's performed at the Midsumma Festival, LOL Comedy at Melbourne Fringe, on Gay News Week, and has also appeared on Strictly Speaking, a public speaking reality TV show on the ABC. He appeared in the 2010 Melbourne International Comedy Festival as part of the political showcase The First Three Up Against The Wall, and opened for Mathew Kenneally at the 2009 Festival. Toby has performed improvised theatre shows around Australia and is co-author of the popular Diary Leaks website. His writing has appeared on The Punch, in mX, and at BigPond News.


Links: Facebook profile, Diary Leaks.







Nazeem Hussain

Nazeem Hussain is the smart half of the amazing comedy duo Fear of a Brown Planet. Their debut show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2008 won the best newcomer award amid rave reviews. They have gone on to tour regularly and are frequent guests on Triple J. Their most recent show, Fear of a Brown Planet Attacks!, was a sellout hit at the 2011 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Links: Facebook profile, Facebook fan page, Fear of a Brown Planet.






Mathew Kenneally

Mathew Kenneally is one of a new breed of Australian political satirists and comedians. In 2007 Mat's debut solo show Mathew Kenneally for Parliament? won Most Outstanding Comedy at the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Just 6 months later he was nominated for the Best Newcomer award at the 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He has written for Rove, Channel 7, and Foxtel’s The Mansion, and is co-author of the satirical blog diaryleaks.com.au. Mat currently works with a group of young political comics to produce the monthly news based comedy night Political Asylum.

Mathew Kenneally’s comedy is topical, satirical and biting, all delivered with a smile.

Links: Facebook profile, Facebook group, Twitter page, website, Diary Leaks.







Ben McKenzie

Ben McKenzie is an actor, comedian, writer and Graeme Garden look-a-like. His writer/performer credits include the ultra-geeky Dungeons & Dragons show +1 Sword, comedy science lectures as “the Man in the Lab Coat”, Museum Comedy shows in Melbourne and Sydney, Channel 31 variety show Planet Nerd, hit sketch stage show The Anarchist Guild Social Committee, short play A Record or an OBE and political stand-up room Political Asylum. He has performed in arts festivals, short films and Science Week, and also works as a presenter and voice-over artist. He blogs (mostly about science) at labcoatman.com.au. His favourite dinosaur is Stegosaurus.

Links: Facebook profile, Twitter page, blog, Shaolin Punk.








Aamer Rahman

Aamer Rahman is the tall half of the amazing comedy duo Fear of a Brown Planet. Their debut show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2008 won the best newcomer award amid rave reviews. They have gone on to tour regularly and are frequent guests on Triple J. Their most recent show, Fear of a Brown Planet Attacks!, was a sellout hit at the 2011 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Links: Facebook profile, Facebook fan page, Fear of a Brown Planet.