★★★★½
Hannah Gadsby returns to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with their newest offering, The Evening Muse. Described as “a talk show wrapped in a comedy show wrapped in an existential crisis,” Gadsby’s performance is chaotic and self-aware, blending razor-edged wit with disarming vulnerability. Few comics mine discomfort, intellect and absurdity so masterfully.
Gadsby has graced the stages of comedy festivals around the world, and 2026 marks their twentieth year in the industry. Gadsby shot to prominence in 2017 with their stand-up show turned Netflix special Nanette, which explored the topical themes of homophobia, xenophobia, gender-based violence and assault.
Nanette quickly established Gadsby as an Emmy-award-winning comedian who could gently and tenderly walk the line between comedy and significant social issues. The Evening Muse is certainly no exception.
The Merlyn Theatre at Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre complex is lovingly decked out with an aesthetic similar to The Tonight Show – comfy couches, a desk for the host (complete with Emmy), and an old-school applause sign. It looked utterly sumptuous and brimming with nostalgia.
Gadsby’s number one aim for the evening is to have fun. (An irony that is not lost on them given the current state of the world.) The first half of the evening takes the form of a stand-up show (what Gadsby refers to as “Bulk Chat”).
Gadsby’s observational humour shines through, touching on their fear of doors, their suspicions of social media, and the utter dread they feel when it comes to small talk. Gadsby’s commentary is, of course, scaffolded by their trademark political and social reflections.
The second half of the evening morphs into a madcap talk-show-meets-quiz-show, with Gadsby bringing fellow comedians Abby Howells and Emma Holland on stage to share stories and tackle Trivial Pursuit questions penned long before they were born.
What follows is delightful pandemonium: utterly unpredictable and wildly whimsical. I’m still not entirely sure what I witnessed, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
By the final curtain, it is clear that The Evening Muse is quintessential Gadsby: unpredictable, intellectually nimble, and brimming with heart. They effortlessly blur the line between comedy and contemplation, leaving the audience simultaneously laughing, thinking, and marvelling at the audacity of it all.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a comic takes the stage armed with wit, vulnerability, and complete disregard for convention, this is it. An unforgettable, haphazard and utterly joyous ride that reminds us why Gadsby remains one of the most singular voices in comedy today.
Hannah Gadsby: The Evening Muse runs to 19 April at the Malthouse – Merlyn Theatre as part of the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. 113 Sturt Street Southbank Vic 3006.
Tickets: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/the-evening-muse/
Website: https://hannahgadsby.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/hannah_gadsby/ and https://www.instagram.com/melbcomedyfestival/
Images supplied.
