Latest Reviews

Tom Ballard's style is frank and forthright. He likes to play on the edge of social taboos, and he enjoys using the awkward and uncomfortable to get a laugh. In this, and his delivery, there are shades of Ricky Gervais. There is an art to being offensive without offending anyone and Ballard is well on the way to mastering it. The result is a hilarious hour of laughs from one of Australia's best up-and-coming comedians.

At age 20, Tom Ballard is doing pretty well for himself. He grew up in Warrnambool in regional Victoria, and was named dux of the South West Region upon completing school. He is a breakfast host on Triple J and has been doing comedy in one form or another since 2004. Last year he became the youngest person ever to win the highly sought-after Melbourne Airport Best Newcomer award.

All this is by way of saying Tom Ballard is smart, snappy and confident. It's a good mix for a comedian and Ballard uses it well. It's hard to identify a theme in his new show - Cogito Ergo Some Funny - and according to Ballard there isn't one. Just an hour of jokes. But that's underselling himself. If there wasn't a theme as such, there was at least cohesion - the show felt like more of a conversation than a bunch of punchlines.

To me, one of the marks of a great comedian is how well they interact with their audience. Ballard is great at this. Over the course of the evening he chatted with the entire front row and several other members of the audience and was quick in finding humour in what they had to say. He also referred back to them at several points and worked the conversations into his material.

Self-deprecating but self-assured, Tom Ballard is simply good fun to be around and if the show had gone on longer no-one would've complained. If there was a theme, it was simply that he was happy to be who he is, where he is. And after a show like Cogito Ergo Some Funny, you'll leave feeling the same way.


A Token Event
Cogito Ergo Some Funny
Tom Ballard

Venue: Arthur's Bar at Rosati* | 95 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Dates: 25 March - 18 April, 2010
Times: Tue - Sat 7.15pm, Sun 6.15pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Prices: All Tix Sat $24.90, Full $24.90, Concession $21.90, Tightarse Tuesday $19.90
Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 660 013 | At the door
Visit: www.tomballard.com.au

* Licensed venue. Under 18s must be accompanied by a Parent or Legal Guardian.