Playing until April 19 (excluding Mondays) at The Victoria Hotel – Acacia Room. Tickets and more info at comedyfestival.com.au/dane-simpson/
There’s something in the air at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival that has a lot of performers feeling nostalgic and curating “best of” shows for their 2026 runs. Luke Heggie and Hot Department are two examples of performers doing greatest hits compilation shows, and joining them on that front is the affable and hilarious Dane Simpson.
A proud Gamilaroi man, Simpson recently celebrated 10 years as a professional comedian, and his appropriately named show this year – 100% Hits – takes us on a nostalgic journey through his life and first decade in comedy, from taking part in the 2015 Deadly Funny competition, to soon after, appearing at the iconic Melbourne Comedy Festival gala, a rapid rise to fame for the Wagga Wagga funny man.
Simpson has a way of telling a story that makes him seem like an old mate you’ve known for years, such is his ease in front of an audience and his good natured charm. His memories of a rough-and-tumble pub he used to visit in Wagga Wagga (“You don’t know this pub, but you know this pub”) instantly helped me to picture the venue he was talking about in my mind.
His most hilarious stories definitely revolve around his equally-as-funny dad, Bow Simpson, from stealing the spotlight away from Simpson on stage one night, to engaging in some hilarious antics on Simpson’s wedding day, to becoming a fan favourite on the duo’s brief but memorable trip to India to take part in The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition.
Simpson makes great use of photos and videos to help illustrate his stories, but the show would work wonderfully even without these, which is a testament just to how good a storyteller he is when relating his hilarious yarns, and is also never afraid to poke fun at himself.
Simpson, a former AFL great (not really, but all will make sense once you see the show), has crafted a wonderful hour that gives you a great overall of his entire career, a perfect introduction to his comedy for newbies and a great way for longtime fans to join Simpson for a hilarious nostalgic trip back in time.
4/5 Stars
TINSEL and TAP SHOES 