Geraldine Hickey - A Weight Off My Chest | MICF 2026

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https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/a-weight-off-my-chest/

Date Reviewed: 09/04/2026

At the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026, Comedy Theatre hosts one of the festival’s most quietly compelling acts: Geraldine Hickey. A veteran of more than two decades in Australian comedy—and winner of the festival’s top prize in 2021—Hickey brings her signature deadpan warmth to a show that is honest and reflective.

Her humour lands with effortless charm. She chats to the audience like old friends, peppering her delivery with “mate” and a relaxed, hearty laugh that immediately softens the room. Hickey’s presence feels familiar. With appearances on shows like Have You Been Paying Attention? and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, she has built a loyal fanbase—evident in the near sold-out crowd.

Her (Yes, this is her pronoun) humour lands with an effortless charm. She chats to the audience like old friends, relaxed,  with a hearty laugh that immediately softens the room. Hickey’s presence feels familiar. With her appearances on shows such as Have You Been Paying Attention? and as a contestant on "I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here"  she has solidified her fanbase, evident by the close to sold out show.

The show leans heavily into Hickey’s lived experience, which has long been the backbone of her comedy. This year’s material centres on her decision to undergo breast reduction surgery—more accurately, full removal—in 2025. What could be heavy or clinical becomes, in Hickey’s hands, both candid and deeply funny. She recounts a lifetime of discomfort with a mix of blunt honesty and sharp observational humour, turning something intensely personal into universally relatable storytelling. Her re-telling of continuous cricket and the pencil case left a knowing number in the room roaring with relatable laughter.

Beyond the central theme, Hickey weaves in threads from her broader life: a love of birdwatching (buy the calendar!) and the meditative calm it brings along with touching moments of resilience. These elements never feel forced—they emerge naturally, adding emotional depth without losing comedic momentum.

There is also a subtle but powerful undercurrent of social awareness. Stories about her wife’s work in healthcare introduce sharper commentary, but Hickey delivers it in the same calm, matter-of-fact tone that defines her style. She doesn’t preach; she invites the audience to listen, laugh, and reflect. 

In a deeper moment Hickey recounts backlash from a social media post, (controversial - yes, but as Hickey said herself right wing christians are not her target market)—reading out comments that are simply shocking and some, quite frankly, Illegal. Framed through her dry wit, the comments from so-called “keyboard warriors” land with a mix of disbelief and dark humour. It’s a moment that cuts through the laughter, where the room is now filled with audible gasps, reminding us all that, regardless of belief, no one deserves that level of vitriol.

Geraldine Hickey is not loud or flashy. Instead, she is intimate, thoughtful, and consistently funny—proof that comedy doesn’t need to shout to be heard. Her ability to turn the specifics of her life into something broadly human is what keeps audiences coming back year after year—like the audience member in the front row who saw her very first Melbourne show two decades ago.

Success is often found in the ordinary, served with consistency. It’s fair to say Geraldine Hickey holds the keys.

Reviewed by Vivien Lynch