Coco The Time-Travelling Tart

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https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/coco-the-time-travelling-tart/

Date Reviewed: 25/03/2026

Strap in (or on), “Coco The Time-Travelling Tart” is wheeling around the decades, hailing cabs to moments in history, searching for her earring, and getting a quickie where she can find one. In this raunchy, character act, Coco ties questionable history and undeniable comedy into a romp through time. 

Don’t let the highfalutin themes (history and art) fool you; “Coco The Time-Travelling Tart” is anything but esoteric. While some jokes are referential, they are widely understood. The comedy is often physical and definitely blue with consistent laughs and a clear climax. Part of Coco’s charm is the camp quality of the “special effects.” Her unorthodox props fit the show’s kinky and chaotic aesthetic. They also help cast the show as intentionally unhinged.

While some of the props might be cheap, the laughs aren’t. The jokes are carefully built to introduce the character and warm up the audience at the start; towards the end, Coco carefully closes the loop on every joke, from major plot points to off-handed comments. While Coco’s shenanigans make the show memorably unique, the core is structurally sound: intro, crowd work, connected sets, and closed loops. 

With Coco, you get what you give. The show is highly audience-dependent, and the Motley Bauhaus theatre is compact. As a result, virtually every member of the audience is included in the show. The last row is relatively safe from interaction, but part of the charm of both the show and the venue is that everyone is in on the adventure. 

Despite the jumps in the timeline, the segments flow smoothly from one to another, without a real drop in energy. The exception is a Titanic skit that starts relatively abruptly, and it isn’t readily apparent where the jokes will land, but land they do. The only segment to truly flop was, on this night, a product of audience participation and confusion. More explication for what Coco expects of the audience may help, but it’s a fine line, as over-explaining would likely be worse. Overall, however, Coco’s ability to riff demonstrates command of the theatre and is a highlight.

For the casual Melbourne International Comedy Festival goer bouncing between shows and expecting an array of classic stand-up sets, Coco might not be the right option. If, however, a raunchy, drag adventure through time and space sounds like a party, Coco will prove you right. The show is unapologetically fringe. There’s no one else quite like the swashbuckling tramp, Coco, so her show is one you won’t soon forget.

Reviewed by Kate Himonas