The hilarious and accessible comedy show, ‘Are You Pulling My Leg?’ premiered as part of Vivid Ideas in 2022  and has since toured across Australia.

Showcasing some of the nation’s funniest comedians with disability or chronic illness, this raucous accessible comedy event boasts a line-up of award-winning performers with entertaining and uncensored insights into disability and much more. With razor-sharp wit and undeniable charm, these talented comedians share hilarious and uncensored insights into disability and oh so much more! From awkward encounters to side-splitting observations that cut to the quick, no subject is off-limits.

MC’d by the fabulous Madeleine Stewart, the changing line-up has featured comedians including Bec Charlwood, Sam Kissajukian, Alexandra Hudson, Jamal Abdul, Loz Booth, Elliot McLaren, Tom Elphick, Imaan Hadchiti, Irene Nicola, Sam Wade, Lily Starr, John Robles, Robyn Reynolds, Bea Barbeau-Scurla and Oliver Hunter.

Available to Tour

If you are interested in presenting this show at your venue, please email CEO Liz Martin at lmartin@aarts.net.au

The show is available for presentation at accessible venues, and encompasses disability-led training for venues including Disability Confidence Training and Accessible Festivals and Events.

Access

 

This show is live captioned and Auslan interpreted to help everyone get the punchlines.

Patrons’ Advice: Strictly 18+ (It’s a bit naughty).
This show contains coarse language, sexual references, drug references, adult content and dangerously good-looking people.

About the Comedians

Madeleine Stewart (MC and Crips & Creeps Producer)
Disability advocate and award-winning comedian Madeleine Stewart charms audiences everywhere with a sweet demeanour, veiling razor-sharp wit. You may have seen Madeleine perform with Adam Hills, Rove McManus, or Reuben Kaye or caught her episode on Dylan Alcott’s Listen-Able podcast. Her viral sketch on Marriage Equality for ABC iview reached 2.7mil views on insta, showcased her ground-breaking exploration of disability and Centrelink. Practicing what she preaches, Madeleine won the AMP Tomorrowmaker award for her production of inclusive, accessible comedy shows- specifically Crips & Creeps and her short film ‘Inspire Me’ has just won Best Documentary at the Australian Independent Film Festival (AIFF). Fresh off the Comedy Festival circuit, Madeleine is currently touring her accessible lineup show ‘Are You Pulling My Leg?’ across Australia in 2024. Madeleine is a refreshing and exciting voice to the comedy scene…. and oohhh sooo inspiring.

Bec Charlwood
Bec Charlwood is a comedian, podcaster and writer. She has opened for big names such as Alan Carr, Wil Anderson, Joanne McNally, Jay Pharoah (SNL) and Josh Thomas. She’s appeared on the Project & as a panelist on the most recent season of Spicks and Specks, which she was also a writer on. She is currently a host on Triple J and released her most recent special ‘Bipolar Baby’ on Youtube this year all about being diagnosed with Bipolar Type II and the parts of mental illness that you probably won’t hear about on RUOk? day. She’s performed at the Sydney Opera House, Splendour In The Grass and The Enmore Theatre many times.

Sam Kissajukian
Imagine entering an altered mental state for 5 months and documenting your mind solely through painting. This was the reality for award winning comedian Sam Kissajukian who made 300 paintings during his Bipolar manic episode. Sam had been working professionally as a stand-up comedian for 10 years. He created a show called “300 Paintings” where he tells the story of his experience, fusing comedy and visual art to explore the Bipolar mind. The show was the winner of “Best Comedy” and “Directors Choice Award” at the Sydney Fringe Festival 2022. Sam then won “Best Comedy” again at Sydney Fringe in 2023 as well as winning the “New Zealand touring Award” and being nominated “Best Comedy” at Melbourne Fringe. At the end of 2022 Sam began exhibiting his art which led to solo exhibitions in 2023 at Sydney Fringe, Brisbane Powerhouse, Maitland Regional Art Gallery and upcoming 2024 solo exhibitions at Summerhall in the UK, Light Adelaide Gallery and a second exhibition at Brisbane Powerhouse. Sam has recently become an ambassador for the mental health peak body, SANE Australia and works with them on various projects to raise awareness and facilitate platforms that provide aid for those living with complex mental health issues.

Loz Booth
Loz Booth is an international comedian, accomplished content creator, writer, and devoted mother of two boys residing in Sydney. In 2023 Loz showcased her comedic talents at the Sydney Fringe Festival and has since become a regular presence in various comedy venues across Sydney. Her influence extends beyond Australia, as she presented her one-woman show in Covent Garden, London. Beyond her success on stage, Loz’s engaging #mumlife content has amassed an impressive 30 million views across multiple platforms, leading to her recognition as a finalist in the UK’s Funny Women awards. In addition to her achievements in comedy, Loz has pursued studies in screenwriting. Her long-term vision involves contributing to the evolution of the Australian screen by developing narratives that provide a nuanced portrayal of ‘disability’ characters in three dimensions. Loz stands as a fierce up-and-coming comic, seamlessly blending humour and a commitment to challenging societal norms through her craft.

Jamal Abdul
Born into an ethnically diverse family to his Italian mother and Arab father Jamal, at three months old was diagnosed with a rare eye condition which is the cause of his blindness. From the very beginning, he was an outsider observing the world and the people around him from a perspective not many would share with him. It’s Jamal’s ‘I’m not weird, you’re weird’ attitude that makes his stand-up comedy performances so unique. Jamal began making waves in the Sydney comedy scene after winning the Stand Up and Be Counted Comedy Competition in 2017. He then became a RAW Comedy State Finalist in 2018 further legitimising himself as a Sydney comedy mainstay. Now, a regular at the Sydney Comedy Store and Happy Endings Comedy Club, Jamal has begun to attract a diverse audience with his straight out style of stand-up comedy. He has since gone on to self-produce his own sell out shows at the Sydney Comedy Festival and has been selected to tour around Australia in the ‘Are You Pulling My Leg?’ Comedy Showcase produced by Accessible Arts.

Alexandra Hudson
Alexandra Hudson shares entertaining little musings about her experiences as a disabled woman and her observations about the mostly foreign non-disabled world she lives in. Alexandra took out joint first place in the National Final of the Raw Comedy Competition at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 2022. Alexandra performed in So You Think You’re Funny at Edinburgh Fringe in 2022 and was a member of Comedy Zone at the MICF in 2023 and performs all over Australia. Alexandra debuted her first solo ‘Making Lemonade’ in 2024.

Sam Wade
Sam Wade is a comedian and content creator, based in old Sydney town. After selling out his debut hour ‘Inner World’ at Sydney Fringe in 2018, he has gone on to crush at the Sydney Comedy Festival with ‘Mind Cave’ in 2021 and ‘Vs The Void’ in 2022-23. He has guest starred and script consulted for hit DnD-based web series ‘1 For All’, garnering a cult following amongst its 700k-strong audience. He also has Autism, loves talking about neurodivergence, and has a laugh that has been described as “an obnoxious honk, like a goose being used as a bagpipe”. Whether on stage, on screen or just laughing in the back of a room, Sam Wade is a guaranteed good time!

Irene Nicola
Irene Nicola is Sydney’s joyfully chaotic clown of burlesque, musical comedy and cabaret. Having written and performed her own original work for over a decade, Irene is a delight on any lineup. Irene has performed in the cabaret and burlesque spaces independently across Australia with her original one-woman cabaret variety-style shows, ‘A Postmodern Striptease’ (2013-2017) ‘Revenge (2018), and the multiple award-nominated ‘Apocalypse Please’ (2019-2023). Irene was a finalist in the Sydney Cabaret Competition (Sydney Cabaret Festival 2019) and performs regularly at Bamboozle Room’s ‘Talk and Tease’. She’s also working on a brand new musical, ‘Mary Mary’, as composer, musical director and script consultant.

Tom Elphick
Meet Tom Elphick: the man who turns adversity into punchlines! Despite a life-changing spinal cord injury 10 years ago, Tom’s spirit remains unbreakable, and his wit sharper than ever. Currently in the final stretch of his medical degree, he’s not just studying the human body; he’s proving that laughter is the best medicine! Although a newcomer to the comedy scene, Tom was a formidable NSW state finalist in the 2023 Raw Comedy competition. His unique blend of clever wordplay and analogies leaves critics raving and audiences wanting more. Embracing his identity with pride, Tom weaves his experiences as a gay man into his comedy, delivering punchlines that resonate and uplift. His ability to blend authenticity, personal stories with universal humour takes the audience through a process of hilarious derailment to queer empowerment. He proves that comedy can be both deeply personal and universally enjoyable. Get ready to be treated to a dose of doctor’s orders! Because when it comes to laughter, he’s not just playing; he’s prescribing!

Bea Barbeau-Scurla
Bea is a stand-up comedian, screenwriter and producer. She is a regular face on club line-ups all over Sydney and Melbourne and has opened for acts such as Wil Anderson and Geraldine Hickey. Her voice has been described as manic, unique and sharp. Darkly funny and disarmingly beautiful (her secret is she’s mixed race, which is very trendy now), Bea is absolutely one to watch!

Elliot McLaren
Elliot McLaren is a Queer, chronically ill, Maori comedian based in Sydney. He delivers “darkly funny and immersive comedy that will entertain, horrify and educate in equal measures”. He is a 2023 RAW Comedy NSW State Finalist and his Solo show, Memoirs of A Meth Head… Chapter One (dir. Steph Broadbridge), toured in 2024 with brilliant response. Elliot is truly unique and one to watch in the comedy scene.

Imaan Hadchiti
Original, bold, and unapologetically authentic, Imaan Hadchiti is a daring, comedian with a razor-sharp wit and a knack for tackling the topics others avoid. A powerhouse performer who’s as sharp as he is fearless. Imaan has been described as Un-cancellable so it is his duty to use his powers try find some logic in this preposterous world. Standing at just 3.5 ft, Imaan holds a Guinness World Record, for ‘The Worlds Second Shortest Comedian’. Finally, all of his hard work of breathing and continuing to exist has paid off. As a shameless, self promoting, independent artist, there is an obligation to mention that in his career is going really well performing and acting in some cult hits.

Oliver Hunter
Living with cerebral palsy and using a wheelchair, Oliver’s has a different view of the world around him (literally- he’s lower) Performing stand up comedy- although he’s never actually stood up- Oliver has been cracking jokes about disability for over 8 years. Entertaining crowds from all major cities in Australia to Dallas and L.A in the United States. While not wearing his comedian hat. Oliver is a disability awareness consultant and advocate, keynote speaker and podcast host. Always aiming to breakdown barriers and improve the lives of all people living with a disability. In other words: “the guy you get when you can’t afford Dylan Alcott”.

This show has been presented by Accessible Arts and Crips and Creeps in association with Arts on Tour with support from Create NSW.

Image description: A collage of nine headshots of comedians performing in the 2025 tour of ‘Are You Pulling My Leg?’ From top left to bottom right: Alexandra Hudson, Jamal Abdul, Madeleine Stewart (photo by Monica Pronk), Imaan Hadchiti, Elliot Mclaren, Tom Elphick (photo by Rob Studdert), Irene Nicola, Loz Booth and Sam Wade.

Video footage: ‘Are You Pulling My Leg?’ filmed at Bondi Pavilion. Featuring Madeleine Stewart, Bec Charlwood, Tom Elphick, Sam Wade and Loz Booth.