An almost completely true biography about the Listies with hardly any fibs
The Listies are Richard Higgins and Matthew Kelly, a comedy double act who are serious about being silly. They formed during the latest Ice Age (2008) to perform absurdist comedy to elderly people (i.e. 18+) but switched to full time kids comedy in 2011, and finding it to be a wondrous and rewarding sphere full of joy, never looked back (plus the hours are heaps better).
To date, they have claimed to have written ten-ish award-winning & critically acclaimed live shows, collaborated with most major theatre companies and festivals in Australia, toured 3 continents, recorded four albums, and published four books with Penguin - and they have 2 books on the way. Though we only have their word for this…
On Australian television you can see them on ABC with their shows ‘Art Blast’ ’The Listies Work For Peanuts’ and ‘What’s With the Listies?’, their music video ‘Wash Your Hands’ (with Zoe Coombs Marr and muso Ryan Ritchie) and occasionally in the background of outside weather broadcasts.
In 2022 they performed over 110 shows to tens of thousands of people all over Australia, NZ and Scotland. Nearly all of them stayed awake and only some of them vomited. Recently, in what may have been an administrative error, they won the Edinburgh Festival’s ‘Primary Times award for Best Production for Children’.
In the past they have received a Sydney Theatre Award, 'The HarperCollins Best Designed Children’s Fiction Book', and the Best Independent show (Golden Gibbo Award) at Melbourne Comedy Festival, (and they are still the only kids act to have been nommed for the Comedy Festival’s ‘Best Show’ award). What can we say - the bribery seems to have worked.
They are currently working on a narrative Podcast series and a new book.
Matt and Rich performing The List Operators for Kids do Compooters at the Edinburgh Fringe in the last ice age, 2011
Nice things people have said about the Listies*:
“Move over Sir Ian – Hamlet’s zombie nun light sabre fight has never been more expertly rendered. “Hamlet is my favourite Shakespeare,” proclaims a tiny tot on the way out. See? Educational too.” - The Scotsman (On Prince of Skidmark).
“When I saw The Listies, it affected my thinking because I really related to the comedy craft they were exercising...it got me a little bit excited to realise that when you are performing for kids, it’s just as delicate and just as sophisticated.” - Frank Woodley.
“Without a doubt the funniest kids show I've ever seen...I really really laughed. I'd have been happy to go on my own and still would've laughed. If you're (in Edinburgh) with a kid, or even not, I'd go and see the Listies." - Frank Skinner.
"If the Wiggles are the Eagles then the Listies are the Sex Pistols." — Dave O'Neil.
"Australian duo the Listies have conquered children’s comedy through deep respect for their audience, with a focus on the subversion of the adult desire for control — with hilarious results." — Sue Giles, The Australian.
"Absolutely delicious!" — A Tiger.
"If your kids have never been to the theatre before, do them a favour and make this their first experience. It's something they will never forget.” — The Scotsman.
"The Listies are a comedy duo who have made a very successful career out of appealing to, well not only the little kid in all of us, but the grubby, grubby little kid in all of us.” — Virginia Trioli, ABC News Breakfast.
"Too silly." — Oscar, 5.
“An hour of rambunctious fun so clever, and so perfectly attuned to its audience, it wouldn't surprise me if The Listies became the first children's comedy act to win top gong at the Comedy Festival.” — The Age
“The Listies never talk down to the audience, they have never assumed that their audience won’t understand their humour. (It) doesn’t just keep children boxed in to a generalised level of low intelligence, it treats them like actual people.” — Gully Thompson
*Hardly any of these people were paid for their comments.
Rich and Matt also have a very successful ushering career
This photo by Andrew Wuttke reveals just how good they are at holding things
The Least silly picture Rich and Matt have ever been in, snapped by Max Milne
The first ever Listies Poster from the dinosaur times.
Awards THEY CLAIM TO HAVE WON:
2023 Melbourne Fringe Award for Best Kids Show
2023 Perth Fringe Weekly Award: Best Children’s Event
2019 Edinburgh Fringe Primary Times Choice Award
HarperCollins Best Designed Children’s Fiction Book
Nominated Best Ensemble Green Room Awards
Best Production for Children, Sydney Theatre Awards
2010 Nominated Best Show, Melbourne Comedy Festival
2009 Nominated Best Emerging Comedians Adelaide Fringe
2009 Golden Gibbo Award, Melbourne International Comedy Festival
2008 Melbourne Fringe Best Emerging Producers Award
SO CALLED Reviews of Live Shows
★★★★★ Fringereview (UK) ★★★★★ Broadway Baby ★★★★★ Time Out ★★★★★ Three Weeks ★★★★★The List ★★★★★ Herald Sun ★★★★★ Fest Mag (UK) ★★★★½ The Sydney Morning Herald ★★★★ Chortle
Nobody else does comedy for kids this brilliantly, but what's more astounding is that adults have just as much fun. The Listies occupy a dimension all of their own. Sydney Morning Herald
This manic Australian double act know all the right buttons to push to make children shriek with laughter. Guardian
Super fun – a brilliant mix of clowning and gross-out humour, general mischief with manic theatrical surprises the kids will go nuts for. The Age
In an era of empty promises, it's nice to find a show title that actually means what it says. The Listies – Australian comedy duo Matt and Rich – really do make you LOL, and LOL and LOL and then LOL some more, until your stomach muscles are sore. ★★★★★ The List
One of the funniest introductions to Shakespeare imaginable. ★★★★ Sunday Telegraph
If you want your kids to have fun at the theatre and fall for all its magic, get them to a Listies show as soon as possible. ★★★★ Daily Review