Tag Archives: Tom Ballard

World’s Funniest Island @ Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour 16-17 October 2010

******* World’s Funniest Island has been cancelled due to a drop off in sponsorship. ******

World’s Funniest Island is a very special comedy event staged over one weekend on Cockatoo Island in the middle of Sydney Harbour and brings together over 180 acclaimed Australian and International comedy artists.

International talent includes Police Academy legend Michael Winslow, the return of the hit show Allah Made Me Funny, five-time Emmy Award nominee Will Durst and six hilarious stand-out new US comics. Also joining the lineup is the incredible comic mind-reading Philip Escoffey from London in ‘Six Impossible Things Before Dinner’.

Aussie headliners include The Umbilical Brothers, Wil Anderson, the world premiere of viral hit sensation Beached Az Bro Live, Lady Julia Morris, Fiona O’Loughlin, Heath “Chopper” Franklin, Axis of Awesome, Tom Ballard, Tom Gleeson, Mikey Robbins and Claire Hooper.

One ticket includes the short ferry rides to and from the Island and as many shows as you can pack into 12 hours each day. The 16 venues on the spectacular heritage listed island include a bomb shelter, tunnels, and a former prison.

The festival will pack in everything from top comics, sketch shows, comedy burlesque and cabaret to the best of campus comedy, plus music, art, booze, food, camping out and spectacular harbour views to calm you down in amidst all the mayhem.

Come along for one day of chuckles, spend two in stitches or if you’re feeling like a hilarious island getaway is just what you need, camp out for 3 nights on prime Sydney Harbour waterfront!

“Events like World’s Funniest Island are what set Sydney apart as an events destination, it a major event that makes the most of Cockaoo Island and attracts both Sydneysiders and visitors. World’s Funniest Island is bound to become the preeminent comedy event in Australia” John Montgomery, General Manager Events, Events NSW

Where: Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour
When: 16-17 October 2010

Interview: Tom Ballard – comedian extraordinaire!

Interview: Elize Strydom
Knock Knock… Who’s there? Tom…. Tom who?
tom-ballardTom Ballard, the triple j Breakfast co-host and comedian extraordinaire. He’s only 20 but he’s already performed at comedy festivals in Edinburgh and Montreal. He was the youngest person ever to win the prestigious Best Newcomer award at the 2009 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He’ll be in Brisbane soon for a run of solo shows called Cogito Ergo Some Funny (as part of the Brisbane Comedy Festival).
That’s not funny. Yeah, you’re right. But Mr Ballard is!

Life Music Media (LMM): Afternoon Tom! Have I woken you up? I’d say your sleeping patterns have changed a lot since starting in triple j Breakfast?

Tom Ballard (TB): Yes, I used to sleep until 12 and eat good food. Now I get up at 4am and eat a lot of sandwiches and come home at about 1.30pm and then have a nap and try to continue to clean my apartment. That’s my rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.

LMM: Has radio taken over your life? You’ve obviously still got a bit of room for comedy.

TB: Yeah, I’ve got to figure out that balance. It’s been an intense couple of weeks so far. This week, I had a gig on Monday night which threw me off schedule so I’ve been trying to catch up on sleep. Hopefully I can figure out the napping thing so I can work both ends of the day.
Continue reading Interview: Tom Ballard – comedian extraordinaire!

Comedy: Tom Ballard solo show ‘Cogito Ergo Some Funny’ @ Brisbane Powerhouse – March 2010

Do you want a double pass to see Tom Ballard? See below for details.
A wise man once said “Cogito Ergo Sum”: I think therefore I am.

tom-ballard   Not only does Tom Ballard exist, he also manages to do hilarious comedy. In 2010,for his brand new show, Tom shall drop some philosophical gems that even Descartes would be proud of, as well as jokes concerning his penis. It’s basically fun for the whole high and low brow family. With topics ranging from death to radio to the worst thing he’s ever done in his entire life, Tom’s Cogito Ergo Some Funny is an hour of stand-up that will make you both laugh and ponder at the same time.

Last year, at age 19, this law school drop-out became the youngest ever winner of the prestigious Best Newcomer award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Not bad progress for someone whose first stand up gig was at the brave age of 14, where he wore a bad shirt and then freaked out when he met Ross Noble.
Continue reading Comedy: Tom Ballard solo show ‘Cogito Ergo Some Funny’ @ Brisbane Powerhouse – March 2010

BIO: Tom Ballard – Comedian/Broadcaster

tom-ballard   Ever since he played the role of Blitzen in a local amateur production of Rock’n’Roll Santa back in 1997 in his home town of Warrnambool, Tom Ballard’scomedy career has been on a steady decline.

Having overcome serious sex and chocolate milk addictions at 14, Ballard managed to become a three-time Class Clowns National Finalist and a RAW National Finalist by 2006.

On the strength of his RAW performance, Tom was offered work with national youth radio network, triple j.
Continue reading BIO: Tom Ballard – Comedian/Broadcaster