LATEST NEWS:

UniMelb Biomedicine Student Cao Becomes Registered Sex Offender

Bao Phuc Cao has been placed on the Victorian Sex Offenders Register for eight years.

One Nation’s Controversial Flag Day Post Triggers Outrage Amongst Students

One Nation's South East Metro candidate for the state election, Colleen Harkin, arrived at the University of Melbourne on 3 September—Australian National Flag Day. Standing outside Building 168, she c

Returning Officer Drops Shock Election Ruling Against Community for UMSU

The 2026 UMSU elections have descended into chaos following a first ruling by the Returning Officer against the incumbent political ticket, Community for UMSU and its presidential candidate Daniel Mot

Most Young Australians who Smoke are Buying Illegally, Studies Find

More than half of Australians aged 18–24 who smoke are purchasing illegal tobacco products, making young adults the most active black-market age group at the same time as their smoking rates fall to r

Public Hospital Doctors Strike for the First Time in Two Decades

Doctors at several major hospitals across Melbourne went on strike on Friday last week, marking the first public health system strike in 20 years.

Article

Review: Matt Okine

<p>Okine’s comedy is humble and self-critical. It’s a refreshing break from the arrogant observational ramblings of some.</p>

Culture

As I walk into the Melbourne Town Hall’s Supper Room, Matt Okine is recovering from the events of this morning, a moment I’d heard on The J on my drive into work. He’d finally met celebrity chef, Justine Schofield after a humiliating affair, having accidentally double tapped an old Instagram photo of hers during an intense and hardly explainable stalking session some months ago.

Okine’s comedy is humble and self-critical. It’s a refreshing break from the arrogant observational ramblings of some. That’s not to say Okine completely avoids the typical ‘I hate all people’ remarks all together. He just happens to use them sparingly.

During his one-hour show, he recalls his time as a struggling actor. He relives certain moments of desperation, even admitting to having washed human faeces off a five-dollar note he found on the street. He re-enacts his one-off performance on Sea Patrol, a role as an Ethiopian diplomat with a questionable accent. His set is very much a success story, a celebration of his new life marked by a steady career and a fistful of hindsight.

Okine explores issues of gender and race and equality, but his exposition is free from judgement. He tells long stories and after he delivers the punch, he drops a magnificent truth bomb or says something incredibly thought provoking in a way that’s kind of similar to delivering it to you on a little post it note for you to stick anywhere you like. You’ll either wear these post its on your forehead or crumple them up and guiltily place them in the bin on your way out of there. The former is most likely.

The show takes a surprising turn at the end, and if you’re as impressed as I was, you’ll leave thinking deeply introspective thoughts, wondering whether or not you’re trying your best to minimise the harm you do onto this planet and the beings that inhabit it. Don’t say I didn’t prepare you.

You can catch Matt Okine during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival at the Melbourne Town Hall through to 17 April 2016.

Farrago's magazine cover - Edition Four 2026

EDITION FOUR 2026 AVAILABLE NOW!

Read online