Dane Simpson – Origins

In the very small narrow space that is The Loft at Enmore Theatre, Dane Simpson is as up close and personal as you’ll get and it’s in this close space that the delivery of his stories – with a bunch of little laughs along the way – felt even more honest and heartfelt.

We went along for the ride as he described his Origins – tales of, not only his youth in Walgett and Wagga Wagga, but how he went from being a DJ to performing in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala. He shared battles his brother had with addiction, the way his dad would crack bad dad jokes and how his mum fought Apple and won.

These are real stories, tales of life’s ups and downs that Simpson manages to find a laugh in, despite sometimes heavy themes. There’s a sense of togetherness in the small space and a feeling of friendship from a man that can tell a good story – you wouldn’t mind being stuck on an eight-hour trip to Walgett with him.

The jokes are not as regular as you may expect from a comedy show, but when they come, they’re cleverly thought out and perfectly timed. It takes a special sort of comedian to hold a small room in the palm of their hand without ever resorting to using that crowd as part of their act.

We are inspired by a story of his nan and the poignancy of her comments: “Sometimes a yarn is worth the money.” This was certainly the case with Dane Simpson.

Performed as part of Sydney Comedy Festival