Footscray resident Mali Hawke is making his debut at the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival with the help of Pilot.
Pilot is a new program which supports young comedians to perform their first long form work at the festival.
Hawke is fresh out of high school and ready to perform his show ‘Life Hacks’, which he says is a musical comedy on what high school is really like.
“The show is encapsulating year 12,,” he said. “I just graduated from year 12 showing he start of the year till the end of the year.
“It’s a bunch of vignettes of funny stories that happened there and all the crazy things that went on.”
Feeling the pre-show nerves of performing in front of a bigger audience, Hawke is excited to test out his new material.
“I’m feeling nervous about it, but also really excited to be able to try new jokes and move forward with a brand new show,” he said.
“I went to Footscray High School so all the stories are centric to the Maribyrnong community and the Footscray community.”
Hawke said anyone who lives in the west or attended a public school in the area is guaranteed to relate to the show.
“Anyone from west Melbourne who sees the show will be able to pick out all the locations where everything happens,” he said.
“I tried to make the audience connect with a shared experience that we’ve all had growing up in the same area and going to the same schools.”
Mr Hawke will be one of five young performers to take the stage at DoubleTree by Hilton in the CBD.
The show will run from March 27 to April 1.
Details: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/pilot-tickets-777420243877
Jennifer Pittorino
