The surname of Hannah Gadsby’s subject Mary.Contrary is a provocative, playful clue to her very particular comedy. Masked behind a lightening wit, droll delivery and a masterful use of words is an encyclopaedic mind.

Her performance is an illustrated art lecture as no academic has ever dreamt... or feared.

Tasmanian born and now a widely acclaimed international performer, Hannah Gadsby – comedian and art academic – investigates the life of the Virgin Mary through art over the ages.

Her mutation from art historian to free-wheeling stand-up comedian began at the 2006 Hobart Comedy Festival. She went on to win the national final of Raw Comedy and soon after second place in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival’s “So You Think You’re Funny?”

Mary.Contrary, which invariably sells out wherever in the world it’s performed, treads a fine line with admirable skill, blending intelligent humour with historical facts without being either dreary or blasphemous.

Hannah Gadsby isn’t confined to academia or the theatre: she’s recognised for her television performances and presentations, and as an author.

 

Details of Ten Days event venues can be found here.