Alanah Parkin's Garage Sale
★★★★ “Expertly delivered… an absurdist world that pulled the rug out from under the delighted crowd’s feet” - Hugging Comedians
“Equal parts nonsensical and illuminating. A crafty chameleon.” - Praise Dionysus
Greg and Denise have too much stuff! Narre Warren South's most notorious couple are moving to the retirement village up the road, and they can't possibly take everything with them.
Join Greg, Denise and a smorgasbord of increasingly unlikely characters at the greatest Garage Sale the south-eastern suburbs has ever seen!
You'll definitely find a bargain. You might even find out the big secret that Greg's been keeping from his wife for the past few decades.
Garage Sale is the debut solo character comedy from actor and improviser Alanah Parkin.
Directed by Isaac Haigh (MICF Best Newcomer 2023, Melbourne Fringe Best Comedy 2022).
Alanah Parkin (they/them) is an actor, singer and improviser (The Big HOO-HAA! and The Improv Conspiracy). Previous Melbourne International Comedy Festival exploits include improvised shows Les Improvise and A Very Normal Dinner With Your Parents, and children's offerings Write Your Own Story’ and Three is a Magic Number. In 2024, they developed the improvised children's musical format for Story Soup with Playhouse Pantomimes and directed the show's successful Melbourne International Comedy Festival run.
Alanah works regularly with Playhouse Pantomimes, presenting original musical adaptations of beloved children’s classics. They have performed and devised at Theatre Works, La Mama, The Butterfly Club, Melbourne Fringe and Adelaide Fringe. Their screen credits include Still Me, Residence and award-winning short films Him, In Darkness’ and The Grand Scheme.
Alanah holds a BA in Theatre Studies and Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne and has trained extensively in contemporary voice, classical voice, improv comedy and acting.
'Clever, hilarious and downright absurd.' Time Out
'Alanah Parkin is an absolute standout as the hip and flamboyant grandmother [...] They are completely convincing as an elderly woman in their physicality, voice and delivery and have exceptional comic timing.' You Should See it Melb
'The list of accents [Parkin] rolled through portraying different characters [was much] to the delight of the audience.' Australian Stage
Feedback/Comments
This comedy show was terrrific, Alan̈nah did a great job, juggling so many characters
Not bad
We enjoyed this so much
Funny travel through time and characters. There were British people wildly giggling in the audience.
An interesting solo performance of various characters capturing the Australian vernacular.
As a play and NOT a comedy, then very well acted. It was definitely not funny.
Very clever
A very light hearted comedy. Very well done
Great performer
Very entertaining show, clever and funny
Great show loved it
What a suite of hilarious characters contoured by Allanah. A great laugh that kept rolling.
Great night out. Had a laugh.
Totally not what you would be expecting - very funny with clever uses of tech and props.
Highly entertaining and enjoyable with a clever storyline. She really is engaging in all her guises, and you will find something you can relate to and laugh at.
What a night of adventures of characters and unexpected turns. Great use of space , filled us with laughs
Alanah Parkin manages to create a long list of crazy characters for her "Garage Sale". Clever use of technology aids the transitions and keeps the laughs going. As one of the older audience members, I perhaps took umbrage at the stated age of the "elderly" Greg and Denise - 66 ain't elderly anymore, Alanah! That aside, it was an entertaining show and a fun start to my Melbourne Comedy Festival. Cheers!!
The roll through of characters in this show is hilariously unexpected. The hardworking Alanah deserves to be praised and the exercise participation section gold! Support this young aspiring comedic talent.
unexpected very funny and clever