Museum Comedy did what it says on the tin.
As part of his continuing mission to marry science and comedy, in 2008 Ben McKenzie launched the Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour: an after-hours walk round some of the Melbourne Museum’s exhibits conducted by comedians with a flair for factual comedy.
Through after hours tours of popular museums, guided trips through special exhibitions and lunchtime lectures, Museum Comedy brought top local and international comedians into museums and other institutions of learning to put the smart in smartarse. Primarily partnering with Melbourne Museum, Museum Comedy also worked with the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. We’ve been quiet since the last tour in 2012, but we may yet return.
Museum Comedy was created and produced by Ben McKenzie, with Janet McLeod of Local Laughs fame co-producing the 2010 Melbourne season.
Tour Guides
- Ben McKenzie – Head Tour Guide 2008-2009, 2011-2012
- Dave Lamb (as “Dave”)- 2012 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
- Nadia Collins (as “Vic”) – 2012 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
- Petra Elliott (as “Narcissa”) – 2012 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
- Kate McLennan (as “Sally Simpkins”) – 2011 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
- Stella Young – 2011 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour, Lunchtime Comedy (2010)
- Amanda Buckley – 2011 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour, Mythic Creatures Comedy Tour
- Danny McGinlay – 2011 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
- DeAnne Smith – 2010 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
- Alexis Dubus – 2010 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
- Andy Muirhead – 2010 and 2009 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tours
- Kent Valentine – 2010 and 2009 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tours
- Janet McLeoad – 2009 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
- Sue-Ann Post – 2008 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
- Bec Hill – 2008 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
- Tommy Dean – 2008 Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
Reviews
- ‘a winning mix of fact and funny’ – Chortle (UK), 2008
- 9/10, ‘an informative and often hilarious tour … not to be missed!’ – The Funny Tonne (Barb), 2008
- ‘a wonderful way to see the institution … greatly entertaining’ – The Groggy Squirrel, 2008
- ‘we laughed and laughed and we learnt some useful things as well’ – Beat, 2010
- ‘a fun frolic through the facts’ – The Herald-Sun, 2012