jks: a comedy(?)

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Tom Ballard’s new (funny) play about what it means to be funny.

A weekly stand-up gig. A Tuesday night. Backstage. A line-up of comedians are hanging out, trading jokes, and talking shit. It’s all fun and games… until they hear the news that a comedy legend has died. Depending on who you ask, he either leaves behind a lifetime of laughter, or a legacy of bigotry and pain. Or maybe both. Or neither.

The comics get stuck in: was this guy actually funny, or just embarrassing? Should he be praised or cancelled? Is being “funny” all that matters, anyway? What’s even the point of telling jokes? How much harm (or good) can they ever do? How dark and fucked up can you go? Who can say what – and who decides?

Written by award-winning snowflake Tom Ballard (Deadloch, Tonightly, Fisk, Serious Danger) and directed by the beloved Ben Russell (Thank God You’re Here, The Grub, Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun), jks: a comedy(?) is the world premiere of a naughty, thoughtful and hilarious new work for Melbourne Fringe.

Longlisted for the 2025 Griffin Playwriting Award and the recipient of a Fringe Fund Cash to Create actors, including Tom Ballard himself, Kevin Hofbauer (Hour of the Wolf, The Commeuppance), Jordan Barr (triple j Weekend Breakfast), Tiana Hogben (Thank God You’re Here, Summer Love) and beloved stand-up powerhouse Nicky Barry (Corey White’s Roadmap to Paradise).

Praise for Ballard’s play #Kwanda: “a rather brilliant political satire…will have you laughing till it hurts ★★★★½ ” The Age