‘Thalia is a must-see if you like your laughter served with a side of life advice that doesn’t sound like a Mel Robbins seminar’
Hot off the back of performances at this year’s Sydney comedy festival, Thalia Joan brings her comedy special Tell Me About It to the stage once more in the encore show no one actually asked her for – but that’s precisely the point.
In Tell Me About It, Thalia challenges us to ask why we take advice from everyone else instead of listening to ourselves, and why we still feel the need to wait for permission before taking action and pursuing what we really want.
Nominated for Best in Comedy in 2024 and Best in Theatre in 2025, Thalia quickly demonstrates why, combining engaging storytelling with a confident and charismatic stage presence.
Stepping onto the stage in a bright magenta silk shirt, ruffled trousers and a diamante belt, she held the audience’s attention like a matador facing down a bull — a rare feat in today’s attention-deprived age. (The set even included farm sound effects to herd us back whenever minds began to wander.) Thalia navigated an impacted wisdom tooth, antibiotics and painkillers — no, really — in matching magenta heels without breaking a sweat.
Tell Me About It covers everything from unexpected dream jobs and sperm counts to eighty-year-olds on Hinge who are still “figuring out their dating goals”, taking the audience on an unexpectedly cosmic journey through space, time and self-discovery.
Thalia pokes fun at the social media wellness culture we are force-fed every day and the experience of being a woman in her thirties, inviting the crowd to find magic in the mundane while asking: what’s actually stopping us from doing whatever the hell we want?
While Thalia commanded the stage, this special one-night-only performance also featured guest appearances from two of Sydney’s most exciting performers: Claire Robin from the internationally toured hit NunSlut and Joshua Hauville (Joshy in Paris).
Known for his online characters, Hauville brought an infectious energy to the room as both performer and MC, giving an unforgettable experience of what I can only describe as bogan burlesque meets aerobics. While Robin delivered her trademark physical comedy with unwavering commitment – including intense, intentionally uncomfortable and prolonged eye contact – the act didn’t land as strongly to an uninitiated and slightly unsure crowd, but Robin persevered, not breaking character or faltering.
Held at Carousel on Oxford Street, the performance benefited from an intimate atmosphere and a high-quality sound system. The entire performance was professionally filmed, making this a unique event. Netflix hasn’t snapped up the rights yet, but someone should get Thalia to Hollywood asap.
While pre-show delays and the venue needing to clear the space to start setting up for their club night meant Thalia had to cut some of her special short (and we sadly missed out on a musical number I’m still eager to see), Thalia never appeared flustered, which is no mean feat for anyone, let alone someone pushing through dental pain.
Thalia is a must-see if you want your laughter with a side of life advice that doesn’t sound like a Mel Robbins seminar. Her delivery feels less like a comedy show and more like a conversation across the brunch table with your funniest friend who never sugar-coats it. Thalia is the type of comedian who makes an audience feel seen, keeping the room laughing and relating to her storytelling all the way through.
While this was a one-off special, follow Thalia on socials to see where she will be performing next, as she is one not to miss.
Review Date: 4th June 2026
Star Rating: FOUR