Sammy J is an award-winning comedian, writer, and songbird. From Melbourne to Edinburgh, he has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting and inventive performers on the international comedy scene.
As a solo act, Sammy J has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Montreal Just For Laughs, and throughout Australia as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) Roadshow and Gala. He has also appeared in millions of living rooms courtesy of Spicks and Specks, Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation, and Good News Week. His live albums are occasionally listened to and someone has almost certainly purchased a copy of his DVD, 58 Kilograms of Pure Entertainment (Madman Entertainment).
At the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe, Sammy starred alongside Adam Hills, Brendan Burns and Rhys Derby in the Comedian’s Theatre Company production of Breaker Morant, playing the role of Major Thomas in ‘an exceptionally strong and nuanced performance’ (Festmag).
In 2008, a collaboration with puppeteer Heath McIvor led to the dark musical comedy Sammy J in the Forest of Dreams. The show won the Age Critics' Award in Melbourne, and went on to receive five-star reviews in Edinburgh and London's West End.
As "Sammy J & Randy", the duo then created Ricketts Lane, a live sitcom which took out Australia's most prestigious comedy prize - the Barry Award for Most Outstanding Show at the 2010 MICF. From there they played the Sydney Opera House; headlined a Montreal Gala; sold out in Edinburgh; and gained a national following on the TV sketch show Good News World (Network Ten). At some point they expect people will stop caring for their skinny-man-purple-puppet shenanigans, but until then, they'll keep writing shows.
When he's not prancing about on stage, Sammy J regularly co-hosts The Conversation Hour with Jon Faine on ABC radio, and writes for The Age newspaper. He is also currently an Ambassador for Big Brothers Big Sisters, a national organisation that matches volunteer mentors with young people in need of guidance and friendship.
Sammy J has been writing comedy songs since his schooldays, when he appeared shirtless on Hey Hey it's Saturday singing about life as a nerd. Having directed and appeared in the Melbourne University Law Revue, he finally took the advice of a frustrated lecturer and dropped his law degree in favour of the comedy circuit. He went on to win the Best Newcomer award at the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
But despite all this, Sammy J's greatest project remains unfinished. At the 2008 Melbourne Fringe Festival, he created the ridiculously ambitious 50 Year Show, a comedy spectacular that will continue every five years and finish in 2058. Book early to avoid disappointment.
"One truly spectacular hour of comedy"
- Chortle, Edinburgh
"A beautiful show from an endlessly creative talent"
- Time Out, London
"Sammy J's narratives are rich in imagery and wordplay, and his command of language and cadence is superb"
- Sydney Morning Herald
"Witty, talented and possessed of incredible timing and memory"
- The Age, Melbourne
"Whiplash smart and laugh out loud funny, he is already a Fringe legend"
- The Herald, Edinburgh
“Gleefully raucous, meticulously crazy, charmingly revolting, achingly funny”
- Beat Magazine, Melbourne
2012
The Inheritance
(Adelaide Fringe, MICF, Sydney, Perth)
2011
Potentially (Edinburgh)
Bin Night (Adelaide Fringe, MICF, Sydney)
Sammy J & Randy's Arena Spectacular (Perth)
2010
Ricketts Lane
(Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane,
Sydney, New Zealand, Edinburgh)
Skinny Man, Modern World
(Edinburgh, Melbourne Fringe)
2009
1999 (Adelaide, MICF, Edinburgh)
2008
Sammy J in the Forest of Dreams
(Adelaide, MICF, Brisbane,
NZ, Edinburgh, London)
The 50 Year Show (Melbourne Fringe)
Sammy J’s Wagon of Friendship
(Famous Spiegeltent)
2007
58 Kilograms of Pure Entertainment
(Adelaide, Melbourne, Edinburgh)
Breaker Morant (Edinburgh Fringe)
La Clique (Famous Spiegeltent)
2006
Sammy J's 55 Minute National Tour (MICF)
Cyclone (Melbourne Fringe Festival, MICF)
Sammy J's Weak and Randy (Butterfly Club)
2005
Three Minute Walk (MICF)
Laughapoolooza (MICF)
2005 Melbourne University Law Revue
2004
The Comedy Zone
(Melbourne International Comedy Festival) Melbourne University Law Revue
Edinburgh Comedy Live (BBC 4)
Good News World (Network Ten)
Spicks and Specks (ABC TV)
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation (Network Ten)
A Tribute to Nerds (Montreal Comedy Gala)
7pm Project (Network Ten)
The Circle (Network Ten)
Good News Week (Network Ten)
Operation Irina (VCA Masters Film, 2010)
OXFAM Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala (Ten)
Sunrise (Network Seven)
Stand Up Australia (Comedy Channel)
Stand Up! (ABC TV)
Let Loose Live (Network Seven)
Champagne Comedy (Channel 31)
Hey Hey it's Saturday (Channel Nine)
Tom & Alex - Triple J
Conversation Hour with Jon Faine - ABC 774
Hamish & Andy - Fox FM
Sunday Night Safran - Triple J
Hughesy & Kate - Nova 100
Peanut Gallery - Triple M
The Party Show - Triple R
Barry Award for Most Outstanding Show
2010 Melbourne Comedy Festival (with Heath McIvor)
The Age Critics’ Award Winner
2008 Melbourne Comedy Festival (with Heath McIvor)
Groggy Squirrel Reader's Award
2010 Melbourne Comedy Festival (with Heath McIvor)
Barry Award Nominee
2008 Melbourne Comedy Festival (with Heath McIvor)
Most Outstanding Comedy Show Nominee
2008 Adelaide Fringe Festival (with Heath McIvor)
Brian McCarthy Moosehead Award Recipient
2008 Melbourne Comedy Festival (with Heath McIvor)
Best Emerging Cabaret Artiste Nominee
2007 Green Room Awards
Best Newcomer Award Winner
2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
2006 Butterfly Club "Under Our Wing" Award
Groggy Squirrel Subscriber's Choice Award
2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
2004 Golden Stomm Award
Most Promising New Comedian
on the Melbourne Comedy Circuit
