Premium Content:

Review: Nob Happy Sock

Bob Happy Sock edit2Nob Happy Sock | Casa Mondo | Until Feb 16 | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Last night 69 people crowded into the tiny  space that is Casa Mondo to see Simon Keck perform his award winning one man show ‘Nob Happy Sock’.

- Advertisement -

Surrounding a pocketbook stage on three sides, the audience dwarfed what must be the tiniest venue at the Pleasure Garden.

Over the last two weeks I’ve seen a lot of spectacle, some talented circus and burlesque acts and wonderful cabaret performers but last night I witnessed the closest thing to a religious experience I have seen in any Fringe performance.

Wielding a microphone, wearing blue stripe pyjamas and armed with nothing more than an incredible honesty Simon Keck held his audience spellbound as he wove a narrative that candidly disclosed his own struggle with depression and suicide ideation.

Yes. This is a comedy show. And yes we laughed about a subject many would consider too serious for laughter. However I sense the laughter came from a shared realisation of a common experience many of us in the audience were familiar with. There was a palpable sense of relief that finally the elephant in the room that is such a facet of modern life was being named and addressed.

This isn’t the first show written about suicide but I can’t remember an example where the subject matter has been treated I such an understated and human way.

The show is beautifully crafted. I can certainly understand why it has garnered awards from  fringe festivals in Melbourne and Adelaide.

As we exited into the evening I couldn’t help but feel we as an audience had been bonded by the experience; that somehow we were more connected to life. That, in my opinion, is the true alchemy of theatre. Simon Keck will be performing until the 16th of February.

Charlie Perth

 

Latest

Madonna shares new album will be out in 2026

The singer has indicated it'll be a follow up to 'Confessions on a Dancefloor'

Review | ‘Kangaroo’ shows the healing power of animals

The Aussie film is based on a true-life story

‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ cancelled after threats from broadcast regulator

The show has been pulled after the broadcaster was threatened with huge fines.

Singer D4vd helping authorities after body allegedly found in the trunk of his car

The body has been identified as belonging to a missing teenager.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Madonna shares new album will be out in 2026

The singer has indicated it'll be a follow up to 'Confessions on a Dancefloor'

Review | ‘Kangaroo’ shows the healing power of animals

The Aussie film is based on a true-life story

‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ cancelled after threats from broadcast regulator

The show has been pulled after the broadcaster was threatened with huge fines.

Singer D4vd helping authorities after body allegedly found in the trunk of his car

The body has been identified as belonging to a missing teenager.

Dozens of charges against Alan Jones withdrawn as he faces court

Alan Jones' case is expected to be heard in 2026.

Madonna shares new album will be out in 2026

The singer has indicated it'll be a follow up to 'Confessions on a Dancefloor'

Review | ‘Kangaroo’ shows the healing power of animals

The Aussie film is based on a true-life story

‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ cancelled after threats from broadcast regulator

The show has been pulled after the broadcaster was threatened with huge fines.