Make no bones about it; Damian Callinan may be one of Australia’s most versatile, prolific and popular comedians. Former drama teacher turned stand up and character comedian Damian was one of the stars of the TV sketch show Skithouse [Australia, NZ, UK & France], a regular on Australian Rules football comedy Before The Game and has recently joined the cast of Channel 10 sketch The Wedge. Not to mention his TV appearances on such shows as Rove Live, Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala, Joker Poker, Good Morning Australia, The Fat, Off Road and countless others.
Damian’s extensive radio career has included co hosting stints on JJJ and 774ABC Melbourne as well as regular segments on Mix FM, Fox and MMM. He can currently be heard on Radio National doing regular satirical arts pieces and on 774ABC in a variety of character and co-hosting roles.
Year after year he has produced quality shows on the Australian festival circuit that have showcased his skills as a gifted writer, stand-up and character comedian. He’s won a truckload of awards for them, but he hides them away like bad Christmas presents. Read this list and marvel at his reluctance to exhort his own virtues.
2006 - Spaznuts [MICF Piece Of Wood – Comedians Choice & Moosehead Award]
2003 - The Cave To The Rave – The Story Of Dance [MICF ABN AMRO Foreign Exchange Award – Trip To Edinburgh Fringe]
2003 – [TV Best Newcomer – Australian Comedy Awards]
2002 – Proxy Heroes [MICF Barry Award Nomination]
2001 – Sportsman’s Night [MICF Barry Award Nomination]
2000 – Out & About [MICF Moosehead Award]
2000 – Sportsman’s Night [Melbourne Fringe – Best Comedy]
1999 – Speech Night [Melbourne Fringe – Runner Up Best Comedy
1997 – [Adelaide Comedy Festival - Make Me Laugh Award – Trip to Edinburgh]
1997 – [MICF – Runner Up – Raw Comedy National Final]
And other solo shows and collaborations with fellow comedian Lawrence Mooney that his mum thought were just as good. (Now he’s using his mum as a vehicle for endorsement!) These critiques are a little more substantive.
“Callinan is clever, intelligent and terrifically talented ... his character work is superb … a huge success” THE AGE
“One of the best shows on offer ... deserving of the w
ildest of applause” HERALD SUN
“Damian Callinan stood up and proved why he is one of Australia’s most successful comedians” ADELAIDE ADVERTISER - ***** STARS
Damian not only regularly tours the nation as a headline stand-up act but has also been a regular on the Melbourne Comedy Festival Road Show since 2001 achieving a reputation for localizing his material for each show. This flare for tailoring his content has also seen him become a much sought after speaker, debater and MC at corporate events for a wide range of clients and audiences with a specialty for the education sector.
He also regularly puts back into the industry through his roles as
- BOARD MEMBER - Melbourne International Comedy Festival
- CO ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & WORKSHOP CONVENOR - MICF Class Clowns
- WORKSHOP CONVENOR – Deadly Funny – MICF Indigenous Comedy Initiative
- AMBASSADOR – Victorian Premiers Reading Challenge
A much sought after comedy director, Damian recently wrote and performed Babysitting, his first show specifically for kids; and is working on Borrydale, his first novel for Text Publishing/Cannongate.
CORPORATE COMEDY
Damian is much demand as a stand-up, character speaker and MC in corporate Australia. Already enhanced with a reputation on the circuit for a being able to localise his material wherever he performs, he brings the same observational and research skills to his corporate clients.
Whether it be holding together an event for a diverse group as an MC; pinch hitting with some specific tailored material as a stand-up or taking the room by storm with his after dinner speaker ex AFL, New Age recruit Troy Carrington, Damian ensures the audience take something more than another nametag away from the event
CORPORATE STAND-UP
Damian’s knack of getting inside the event and finding a connection to the audience he speaks to, instantly puts the crowd at ease. With this rapport established he effortlessly combines tailored material with his own to construct a unique and hilarious set that only they will ever see.
CORPORATE MC
Damian’s MC skills, honed in the comedy rooms of Australia, have been put to the test in a myriad of situations. From music festivals to sporting events and award nights to launches. His ability to lighten the mood with his own tailored spin on proceedings; adapt his delivery to varying age groups and audience types and keep the event ticking along in a smooth and professional manner sees many clients booking Damian for further events before the night is through.
COMEDY CHARACTERS
Troy Carrington - AFL Footballer
Troy is undoubtedly Damian’s most popular corporate character. After playing bugger all games at 4 clubs over 7 years, Troy Carrington has decided to follow the path of the alarming number of AFL players trying to eke out a career in the media. If you’re after an after dinner speaker with a difference, Troy is the ideal choice.
He initially presents himself as a typically inarticulate country boy However as he begins to regale stories of footy trips; talent nights and pre-season bonding activities Troy reveals a much more sensitive; cultural persona. Post-season footy trips to Prague to follow the Mozart trail to Vienna and Javanese shadow puppet versions of Shakespeare at the talent night. These are the unlikely offerings of Troy as he shares his career highlights.
Jacques Van Der Hoos - Rugby Footballer
Jacques is your archetypal hard-nosed Springbok second rower. He reflects on his harsh childhood in the Transvaal and the extreme training regimes inflicted upon him by his domineering father. Shoulder charges against electric fences; tackling drills with stampeding cattle and donning the bulletproof vest for a length of the field dash across the rifle range.
All that hardship paid off as his career took off, but all of that was lost when on the eve of the Tri-Nations he arrived at the gala ball wearing a taffeta, off the shoulder evening gown. Despite relishing the freedom of having his penchant for frocks out in the open he tells the story of his career being ruined by a rugby world not yet ready for a second rower in sequins.
Klaus Amstel - Conductor
Klaus is an Internationally renowned maestro who is in the country as conductor in residence with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Bored with life on the Apple Isle he has asked for more engagements on the mainland. With this in mind he inadvertently accepts a gig from his publicist without listening to the brief.
Thus he finds himself at your event.
Klaus uses the opportunity to take a swipe at our Great Southern Land. Everything from moccasins to savaloys come under the gun as he unleashes frustration born of his term of imprisonment in the penal colonies. The audience are not saved from the crossfire as he force-feeds them his own culture in retribution for 5 months of vegemite on toast.
Hugh Quigley - Local Historian
Since failing to write the great Australian novel Hugh has made an adequate living from writing commissioned local histories. Amongst his anthology to date are such luminary texts as “Leadlight At The End Of The Tunnel - The History Of Lead Mining In The Caxton Valley”; “How Much Wood Can A Woodchopper Chop – The Memoirs Of The O’Connor Bros.” and most controversially “Headless Chooks”, a damning history of the infamously violent Bodgy Creek Football Club.
Hugh holds back few punches as he lifts the lid and stirs the pot on whatever historical stew is on the stove. He’s not afraid to print the truth and even make it up if its not available.
He would be willing to work on the history of any organisation; club or even individual. Warning – end result may not be historically accurate.
Gerald The Counselor
Gerald, an ex catholic priest, has rediscovered his calling in the form of a counselor specialising in inter human relationships. Unencumbered but the rules of religion and any form of qualification he happily espouses his witless wisdom to his defenceless clients.
His interactive style and complete lack of shame and dignity leave audiences in hysterics. Ideal for a bogus workplace bonding session, Gerald will tailor his session to ensure all targets are found.
Nathan Houlihan
Despite his 9 years, Nathan seems to be able to get himself to gigs at any hour to tell one of his now infamous choose your own adventure stories. Nathan writes his stories for just about any occasion and only asks that you call out your choices clearly when he asks for them.
With appeal to all ages Nathan is the ideal choice if you’re looking for something different to appeal to a diverse audience. He’ll even write a story especially for someone’s farewell; birthday or other milestone.
Characters Commissioned for Specific Occasions
Damian is willing and able to create or adapt characters specific to any occasion. By providing the appropriate information he will research and write scripts that add both plausibility to the character and points of reference for the audience.
Characters may be created to cater for organisations wishing to create a hoax or a surprise for the audience by way of speeches or stunts.
The possibilities are endless, though he draws the line at jumping out of cakes.
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