Adam Hills is swapping stand-up for acting at this year’s Melbourne Festival

But the role shouldn’t prove too tricky for him – as it’s that of a stand-up comic.

Hills plays one of five stand-ups in the show, Die On Your Feet, which claims to be “an insight into the cliques that form backstage in the comedy world”.

Written by fellow Australian comic Greg Fleet, who also appears in it, the hour-long play also promises “a slightly distressing insight into the kinds of jokes that comedians make to keep each other amused off stage”.

Hills, a three-times Perrier nominee, currently hosts the TV panel show Spicks And Specs on Australia’s ABC network.

A spokesman for the Melbourne festival said: ”The comedy festival has long had a tradition of otherwise solitary performers collaborating.

“Adam is sacrificing performing in his own solo stand up show this year in order to have a stab at this whole acting thing.”

The other performers starring in this tale of  “stand-up comics, computer games, love, death and jealousy” are Corinne Grant, Alan Brough and Steven Gates of musical comedy troupe Tripod.