Melbourne International Comedy Festival review

Anisa Nandaula explores two sides to what ‘you can't say that’ could mean. The first, is some of the more jaw-dropping things people have said to her as a black woman in rural Queensland. The second is that a predominantly white audience, there are things we cannot say – but she can.

Having moved from Uganda to the farming city of Rockhampton as a child. It’s no wonder that cultural differences are the cornerstone of her set, covering both weird prejudices she’s encountered about Africa, and weird prejudices she had about the West.

Those contrasts also extend to family life, and she confesses to being jealous of white people whose relatives stay out of their business. However, her parents are a goldmine of material for her, including the stereotypical no-nonsense, blunt-talking African mum and a father who went from poverty to doctor, though with a question of ethics hanging over him. That her boyfriend is Chinese adds another axis of ethnic differences. 

The content is refreshingly distinctive, and she tackles her anecdotes with a light conversational touch and punchlines that are often just silly, and sometimes quite dark.

However, it’s her character and delivery that stand out. A former beat poet, she has a poise and effortless confidence rarely found in festival debutants and an upbeat personality, full of understated mischief, that it’s easy to connect with. That’s underlined with smooth crowd work which adds to the fluidity and spontaneity of the hour.

Behind the breezily told stories lie issues such as the pressure Nandaula feels as a visible minority in a monoculture, conscious of her otherness and fighting for acceptance without losing her identity. But she never labours the points, instead letting her witty anecdotes speak for themselves. 

The downside of that is that there’s not much of a robust narrative or thematic thread to sustain the hour, which ends up feeling like an anthology of disparate stand-alone routines without a driving purpose.

However, it’s done with undeniable skill and confidence – how many comics would turn away from the audience to chant from the Quran, let alone newcomers. Put her in front of any crowd and she’d be at home, let alone the sizeable audiences she’s attracting in Melbourne who already know her from her high social media profile. She’s one to watch, for sure. 

Review date: 20 Apr 2025
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett