Katrina Mathers - Anything but the Dyson and Other Excellent Monologues | MICF2026

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https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/anything-but-the-dyson-other-excellent-monologues/

Date Reviewed: 07/04/2026

There’s something deeply reassuring about watching Katrina Mathers stride across the stage, knowing exactly who she is and where she’s at.

No pretending, no polishing.

This is feminine midlife in all its sweaty, self-sabotaging, sporadic rage; set against a delightfully pretty pink floral stage. This audience clearly appreciates moments of borderline insanity and unhinged glory.

I learn that the 6.00pm time slot is welcomed by this audience keen to be wrapped up in bed by Nine. At the Trainscendence space—tucked down a small lane off Budd Street in Collingwood—twinkling fairy lights lead you into an edgy little venue with a bar and eclectic seating, perfect for a pre-show prosecco or a post-show soaker.

Speaking of stages, the three stages—peri, post, and full-blown menopause—are under the spotlight here; with a touch of Dementia (which I will add is no fun for anyone), but Katrina Mathers serves this like Hot Chocolate with a side of marshmallows, with warmth yet no sugar-coating.

Anything But The Dyson and Other Excellent Monologues is, on paper, a collection of monologues about menopause, domestic chaos, and the general “what fresh hormonal chaos is this” phase of life.

Some of the best moments are in the personal banter where Mathers just chats, confesses, and spirals slightly with the audience. Golden moment's in their own right. There’s a looseness that feels like being let in on something, rather than being performed to.

The monologues are genuinely compelling—sharp and sincere. “The Menopause Hotline,” later followed by “The Cold Plunge,” land squarely in that sweet spot between goofy and painfully familiar.

Set in a small space bursting at the seams with a full house—peppered with family, familiar faces, and possibly even a surgeon or two (trigger warning for the squeamish)—the audience feels both knowing and deeply connected, whether they’re living it or witnessing it up close.

There’s a very particular energy in this show, and it’s exactly what makes it so appealing. It’s not trying to please everyone. It’s for anyone who’s lived a little, survived sleepless nights, woken up inexplicably furious, and still somehow made it out the door (Then went back in because they forgot half of the things, yet still made it out the door).

That mix of chaos, resilience, and raw honesty delivers a knowing, grounded, self-aware show. Drawing on her own health experiences, Mathers shares these moments with humour and softness—especially when life, and the wider world, feel increasingly unsettled.

Hormones running wild, Evian facial spray at the ready, and getting through each and every day with some sense of gratitude is no small feat. I commend Katrina and all others who resonate, for being in the heat of it all and not throwing the Dyson out the window, at the offspring, the delivery driver, or the other half.

This wholesome and honest hour reminds us to wake in the morning and step outside, take a deep breath and scream at the top of our lungs........... 

Reviewed by Vivien Lynch