Walking into the theatre to see Hello Mr Radio, on as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival, is visually arresting. The stage has been turned into a radio studio using colour blocking. Three characters motionless stand on the stage, cleverly camouflaged. All have identical beards. There is a sign advising the audience to keep their mobile phones on for the duration of the show.

Tune into 98.5 1/2 every Tuesday for a dose of absurdist comedy. Fergus Mackerel, pony tail flying, delivers an hour of absurdist comedy, along with a string of wacky guests, including a spellcaster, and audience members who call-in to talk about road haulage and their mums chopping boards. Think 1970s fashion and style – around the time of the introduction of colour TV.

The show has an off-beat nostalgic feel. It’s like getting in an old car that only has one radio station and a slightly dodgy aerial, and going for a drive you weren’t expecting on a sunny day. Hello Mr Radio is dry, character driven, humour, with clever language play and great timing. 

Hello Mr Radio is created and performed by Handful of Bugs with Alex Donnelly, Ayesha Harris-Westman and James Colbourn-Keogh on stage. The show is produced by SKINT with music and sound design by Thomas Bradford.  

Hello Mr Radio is on at The Malthouse Playbox until 19^th April.