Jenny Nimon
No! I’m Not Australian! by Ocean Denham is a storytelling stand-up comedy show centred around an OE gone wrong – over and over again. In 45 minutes, we travel across the UK, vicariously living out Denham’s most mortifying moments.
No! I’m Not Australian! has a defined structure, which is so important for stand-up. Let’s be honest, it’s not easy to hold the attention of a room for such an extended period of time when it’s just you and a mic, but Denham does. The set is structured around story, with Denham talking us through a series of worsening events. After each story, she sings a song that ties it together, and she has pipes! The mix of mediums works well to keep the audience engaged. So much so that I’m a little surprised when the set ends. It feels a bit abrupt and anticlimactic. The narrative shape is there – she moves through all her negative experiences to share a final positive experience that shifts her outlook – but the ending could use some work. It needs to be developed a bit so the audience has time to realise they are hearing the final act.
It is clear that Denham has a strong stage presence. Her energy holds the room, and she works well with an audience, making quips based on their responses. Her stories are wild and funny – cringeworthy in a laugh-with kind of way, not a laugh-at. At times they seem a bit far-fetched, but I’ll give Denham the benefit of the doubt that they haven’t been too exaggerated. The comic brand of ‘not so humble’ is one that she spreads thickly, and it is effective until it is returned to one too many times.
In her show’s description, Denham describes herself as a ‘female comedian challenging ideologies of how women are represented’. The content is crude, but intentionally so – she’s trying to make us question our opinions on what women should and shouldn’t talk about. In theory, I’m here for it, but I have seen a lot of it. While this attitude might still be revolutionary in most spheres, I would say that when it comes to feminist comedy, it has become a bit of a cliché. Denham does pull it off in a way that still earns some happy shock from the audience, so it is well executed even if it has been done before. I don’t want to sound like I don’t enjoy this kind of comedy (I do, and Denham does a great job!), but I want to remind all the up-and-coming female comedians that things stop being groundbreaking after the first handful of people do them. There are other feminist styles you can explore too. Styles that rely on shock factor are only effective while the audience still finds them shocking.
No! I’m Not Australian! was on at Fringe Bar for one night only, but based on how packed the room was, I think Denham could have safely done a few more nights. For more information or to book tickets for another show in the festival, visit theFringe website.
It is clear that Denham has a strong stage presence. Her energy holds the room, and she works well with an audience, making quips based on their responses. Her stories are wild and funny – cringeworthy in a laugh-with kind of way, not a laugh-at. At times they seem a bit far-fetched, but I’ll give Denham the benefit of the doubt that they haven’t been too exaggerated. The comic brand of ‘not so humble’ is one that she spreads thickly, and it is effective until it is returned to one too many times.
In her show’s description, Denham describes herself as a ‘female comedian challenging ideologies of how women are represented’. The content is crude, but intentionally so – she’s trying to make us question our opinions on what women should and shouldn’t talk about. In theory, I’m here for it, but I have seen a lot of it. While this attitude might still be revolutionary in most spheres, I would say that when it comes to feminist comedy, it has become a bit of a cliché. Denham does pull it off in a way that still earns some happy shock from the audience, so it is well executed even if it has been done before. I don’t want to sound like I don’t enjoy this kind of comedy (I do, and Denham does a great job!), but I want to remind all the up-and-coming female comedians that things stop being groundbreaking after the first handful of people do them. There are other feminist styles you can explore too. Styles that rely on shock factor are only effective while the audience still finds them shocking.
No! I’m Not Australian! was on at Fringe Bar for one night only, but based on how packed the room was, I think Denham could have safely done a few more nights. For more information or to book tickets for another show in the festival, visit the