“Give me a woo if you have ever watched the show Thank God You’re Here. Congratulations, you’ve made it to your 30s.”
This was one of the opening lines of Thank God You’re Queer, performed as part of this year’s Melt Festival. As a gay man in his 30s, I wasn’t sure whether I should laugh or cry at the suggestion that I was officially entering my geriatric era. Apparently, it’s all downhill from here.
Opening the show was Daniel Kirkby, whose quick wit and impeccable comedic timing immediately set the audience up for what was to come.
For those unfamiliar with the format, the premise is simple: a group of actors are given a scenario and begin setting the scene. Another actor, who has been placed behind a rainbow shower curtain wearing noise-cancelling headphones, is then thrown into the action with absolutely no idea what is happening.
What follows is a test of quick thinking, creativity and the ability to commit to whatever ridiculous situation unfolds.
Personally, the thought of performing improv terrifies me. Is it the fear of not having a good idea? Of not being funny? Perhaps it stems from attending a few shows in the past that have made me question whether second-hand embarrassment should be considered a spectator sport.
Rest assured, Thank God You’re Queer was NOT that.
Big Fork Theatre runs improvisation workshops, competitions and showcases, so the team knows a thing or two about the art of thinking on your feet. Combined with Second Beat Productions, who recently staged Gutenberg! the Musical!, the audience were in very capable hands.
What made this production particularly enjoyable was seeing queer stories and humour brought to life by such a diverse cast. The scenarios covered everything from Grindr conversations and coming-out humour to the wonderfully ridiculous stereotypes that come with being part of the rainbow community.
With eight queer performers and four “straights” vying for the audience’s approval, there was plenty of material to play with.
One of my highlights was watching Liz Talb and Jaye Heather explore the lesbian fascination with rock climbing. Their quick thinking and physical comedy were a delight as they discussed the perfect outdoorsy outfits and the ideal choice of carabiner. It was an oddly specific conversation that somehow had the audience in absolute fits of laughter.
Now in its eighth year, Thank God You’re Queer clearly knows what it is doing, and a sold-out Melt Festival season comes as little surprise. While the audience was predominantly made up of members of the rainbow community, it was just as entertaining to see the heterosexual crowd getting involved and enjoying the ride.
Good comedy has a way of bringing people together, even when the punchline involves a Grindr disaster.
Whether you identify as gay, straight or somewhere in between, Thank God You’re Queer is a fun night out for anyone who enjoys a good laugh, a little improvisational chaos and a gay gag or two.
Thank God You’re Queer ran for a limited season as part of 2026 Melt Festival at the Brisbane Powerhouse. The season has now ended.
Website: https://brisbanepowerhouse.org/events/thank-god-youre-queer/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/melt.fest/ and https://www.instagram.com/secondbeatproductions/
Images supplied.
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