Frantasia: back for one night only

Posted on 11 June, 2019

Frantasia, the “stand-up, sketch fever dream” of comedian Frankie McNair is back in Canberra for one night only.

Frankie began her career in comedy after she saw Sydney comic Fran Middleton blur the lines of stand-up and absurdism.

After five minutes of “cry-laughing” during Fran’s Civic Pub performance, Frankie saw that there wasn’t one genre she needed to fit into, but that being true to herself was all that mattered. This was a “game changer”.

Since then, Frankie has performed to sold-out crowds at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and has been a Raw Comedy State Finalist.

The first time she performed solo show, Frantasia was in Canberra, where the show sold out at the Canberra Comedy Festival.

While Frankie says she knew her mum was a guaranteed sale, she never expected to sell out her first solo show.

“The idea of anyone choosing to come and spend valuable time and money seeing me be an absolute goose still amazes me, but then to have a packed room of people was mind-blowing.”

“I was so grateful to everyone who came because you spend so long creating your content and slogging it at open mics and that night it really felt like all the work had been worth it.”

That night was “surreal” for Frankie, making her more excited than ever to be in front of a Canberra audience once more when she brings Frantasia back to Civic Pub for one night only on Thursday 27 June.

“Canberra audiences really want to come along for the ride and aren’t afraid to laugh loudly,” says Frankie. “Some other places feel a little bit self-conscious so [they] take a while to lean into the show.”

“Other places are like the too-cool tween and Canberra is the fun divorced grandmother who knows herself and doesn’t give a hoot what others think so she is [going to] rock that leopard print caftan baby!”

Even if you did get to see Frankie perform at the Canberra Comedy Festival, the show on 27 June will be “sillier and bigger than it was last time” so really, there’s no excuse not to take a trip to Frantasia.

the essentials

What: Frankie McNair: Frantasia
When: Thursday 27 June 8.30 – 9:30 pm
Where: Civic Pub, Lonsdale Street, Braddon
Tickets: $20 via TryBooking