Pretending Things are a Cock (PTAAC) is indeed one of Jon Bennett's most well-known and successful shows. This one-of-a-kind comedic production blends his signature style of humor with deeply personal stories and quirky photographic art. The premise revolves around Bennett's globe-trotting adventures, during which he humorously photographs various objects while pretending they are phallic symbols. But beyond the lighthearted visuals, the show dives into Bennett’s life, revealing more intimate and emotional tales, juxtaposing the absurdity with heart-wrenching moments.

The show’s combination of Bennett’s comedic storytelling with artistic visuals and real-life reflections earned it critical acclaim and multiple award nominations, including the Just for Laughs award for Best Comedy in Montreal (2013). It has resonated with audiences globally, from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012 to a successful off-Broadway run at the SOHO Theatre in New York (2019/2020).

The mix of humor, personal vulnerability, and visual absurdity makes PTAAC a standout experience that has captivated audiences at major festivals around the world.

**Just for Laughs Award nomination for Best Comedy (Montreal Fringe, 2010)

**Pick of the Fringe Award (Winnipeg Fringe, 2011)

**Selected (Just for Laughs Zoofest, 2013)

**Critics Pick of the Fringe Award (San Diego Fringe, 2014)

**Pick of the Fringe Award (Calgary Fringe, 2015)

**Pick of the Fringe Award (Boulder Fringe, 2015)

**Funniest Show Award (London Fringe, 2015)

**Best Comedy Award nominee (Hobart Fringe, 2018)

“The funniest show at the fringe. Don’t miss it. ★★★★½” - Calgary Herald

"Fantastic comedic storytelling. ★★★★½” - Channel 44

“Instantly likeable, Bennett is a deft storyteller with a frank, confessional style that blends pathos and humour to great effect. ★★★★½” – Uptown Magazine (CAN)

“Dick obsessed humour goes much deeper. ★★★★” - Now Toronto

“Bennett delivers belly laugh after belly laugh. ★★★★” - London Free Press

"As Thursday’s show let out one of the audience members said, “That wasn’t what I was expecting.” This statement is insane. ★★★★" - Saskatoon Pheonix

“Jon Bennett is such a warm and charismatic performer he turns one of the most puerile concepts into something quite special indeed. ★★★★” - Hairline Reviews (UK)

“at the end of this hilarious and thoughtful hour, no one seems to want to leave the room. ★★★★” – Edmonton Journal (CAN)

“true brilliance ★★★★” – Vue Weekly (CAN)

“surprisingly touching ★★★★” - Winnipeg Free Press (CAN)

“Bennett is a rare talent and this is one of the funniest shows at the Festival.” - The Press (NZ)

“Bennett has a near-mystical ability to spin a yarn, bringing characters and places to vivid life.” – The Skinny (UK)

“Part travelogue, part personal adventure, Bennett tells these stories engagingly, swinging nicely between the hilarious and the sublime.” – Fest Magazine (UK)

“The bad-travel stories of Bill Bryson, the familial weirdness of Augusten Burroughs, the sharp wit of David Sedaris and slides that range from the bizarre to the ridiculously hilarious.”  – CBC Manitoba (CAN)

“Delightful and enthralling” – Australian Comedy Review (AUS)

“Jon is smart, funny, engaging and talented.” – The Herald Sun (AUS)

“the indisputable fact that if your inner schoolboy needs a giggle, Jon Bennett is your messiah.” – UQ Events Arts & Entertainment (CAN)

“You see, the show is about more than Jon telling funny stories on stage. It is the beginning of a friendship in which you are his confidant. It is why after the show he invites you to have a beer with him, and why I feel comfortable calling him by his first name.”- Newshit Magazine (AUS)

“It needs to be seen to be believed”

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is not your average run-of-the-mill comedy show.”

“Ever get the feeling you’re being played with by a prankster with Andy Kaufman sensibilities?”– RHUM Magazine (AUS)

“Bennett is a natural storyteller and will have you completely engrossed” – Montreal Mirror (CAN)

Fire in the Meth Lab is another compelling and personal show by Jon Bennett, where he dives into the chaotic and darkly humorous story of his brother's life. Through letters and candid reflections, Bennett unravels the ups and downs of his brother’s troubled existence, including encounters with crime, addiction, and prison. The show skillfully balances shocking revelations with Bennett’s characteristic comedic touch, making it both wildly entertaining and deeply moving.

This show explores heavier themes—such as family bonds, diverging life choices, and the consequences of addiction—but Bennett’s storytelling softens the intensity with moments of humor and tenderness. With stories of drug dealers, car chases, fights, and even cancer, Fire in the Meth Lab presents a gripping and heartfelt narrative about the complexities of sibling relationships and the unpredictable paths that life can take.

The unique mixture of outrageous anecdotes and sincere emotion allows audiences to connect with Bennett's personal story while also providing plenty of laughs along the way. It’s a reflection on how two brothers, raised in the same environment, can end up on very different life trajectories, yet still maintain a bond filled with love and humor.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

**Best of Fest (Saskatoon Fringe, 2018)

**Best Script (Nelson Fringe, 2018)

**Best Performance Winner  (Victoria Fringe, 2016)

**Sell Out Show Award Winner (Orlando Fringe, 2014)

**Audience Best in Venue Fringe Award Winner (Orlando Fringe, 2014)

**Sold out Season (Brisbane Comedy Festival 2015)

**Selected (Just for Laughs Zoofest, 2014)

**Just for Laughs Award nomination for Best Comedy (Montreal Fringe, 2014)

**Pick of the Fringe Runner up (Victoria Fringe, 2016)

**Favorite Comedy Runner up (Victoria Fringe, 2016)

**Favorite Spoken Word/Storytelling Runner up  (Victoria Fringe, 2016)

**Favorite Solo Show Runner up  (Victoria Fringe, 2016)

**Best Comedy Award Nominee (Perth Fringe World, 2014)

“Bennett is a ball of energy and his humour is on point. If you’ve never heard about vomit punches or belly-bucking, this is the show for you. ★★★★★” - Edmonton Journal (CAN)

“Jon Bennett is relatable from the get-go. ★★★★★” - National Post

 “Charming, engaging and endearing. ★★★★★” - The Star Phoenix (CAN)

“This show will make you laugh, even after you’ve left the venue. ★★★★★” – Vue Weekly (CAN)

“Hilarious. ★★★★★” – Edmonton Sun (CAN)

“Bennett is consistently hilarious. ★★★★★” - Edmontonfringe.ca

“Incinerates your expectations of the solo confessional, this flammable Australian is in a league of his own.” ★★★★½ – 12th Night (CAN)

“Brilliant ★★★★½” - Rip it Up Magazine (AUS)

“the deepest, most poetic hour you’ll spend. ★★★★” - Winnipeg Free Press (CAN)

“Funny, compelling and surprising, Fire in the Meth Lab will have you laughing one minute and tearing up the next. ★★★★” - CBC (CAN)

“Bennett has an uncanny and unnerving ability to make you crease up with laughter before dropping a perfectly timed bombshell. ★★★★” - Time Out (UK)

“It took me several minutes to regain my hearing after the show, not from Bennett’s delivery but from the level of laughter the packed crowd generated. ★★★★”  – The West Australian

“Jon Bennett sets the gold standard in storytelling. This show is powerful, brutally honest, and drenched in the rich humour of pathos. This is unlike any other show you’ll find at the festival. Get your hit of raw and real comedy. This is my pick of the festival so far.” – Heckler (AUS)

“Timeless joy” - Herald Sun (AUS)

“An entrancing hour of compelling stories ★★★★” - Chortle (UK)

“Fire in the Meth Lab is fucking hilarious!” – Forget the Box (CAN)

“über-watchable”  – Charpo Canada (CAN)

IT’S RABBIT NIGHT!!!

IT’S RABBIT NIGHT!!!

IT’S RABBIT NIGHT!!!

IT’S RABBIT NIGHT!!!

(Free Carrots!!!)

**Golden Gibbo Award Nomination (Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 2015)

**Just for Laughs Award nomination for Best Comedy (Montreal Fringe, 2015)

“Jon Bennett’s It’s Rabbit Night!!! is a joyous, bonkers, whole venue experience…David Lynch would love it…A fabulous example of his mesmerising storytelling.”
★★★★ – The Clothesline

“Jon Bennett is a man with a wealth of stories – awkward, funny, touching, dark, cringeworthy, sometimes all at once – and most importantly, the talent to tell them well.
This top-tier performer is definitely worth the climb.”
★★★★ – Dirt and Candy

“I laughed myself silly for an hour.” - Orlando Weekly

“It’s mother-freaking Rabbit Night! An interpretive dance based on the preparation of rabbit stew and someone else gave birth to a chicken. Anything. Can. Happen.” - Montreal Rampage

“Peppered with Rabbit-themed content that is sure to delight and disorient you, this comedy show is hilariously depressing and unabashedly joyful, and, I must say, a hopping good time.” - Alberta Theatre Guide

My Dad's Deaths is another brilliant work by Jon Bennett, exploring the unique and sometimes surreal relationship between him and his conservative father—a man who has faced death multiple times. The show mixes Bennett’s sharp wit with deeply personal reflections on family, love, and the complexities of their father-son dynamic. Through a combination of heartfelt storytelling and his signature self-deprecating humor, Bennett creates a touching tribute to the ordinary yet extraordinary life of his father.

Bennett's father, who always wished for his son to follow a traditional path and become an author like Banjo Patterson, provides the central narrative arc. However, Jon’s (Author of the hit book Pretending Things are a Cock) unconventional path as a comedian becomes the backdrop for this poignant exploration of familial expectations, generational differences, and shared memories. The result is a highly engaging show that effortlessly oscillates between laughter and deeper emotional reflection.

This award-winning performance has earned widespread acclaim, including nominations for the Just for Laughs Award for Best Comedy (Montreal Fringe, 2013), and several other accolades at international festivals, such as Best Comedy at the Victoria Fringe (2017) and Best Solo Show at the Orlando Fringe (2015). Audiences are captivated by Bennett’s ability to turn personal stories into universal experiences, with the show frequently praised for its ability to blend humor with emotional resonance.

Critics highlight Bennett’s mastery of storytelling, with reviews describing the show as "gut-wrenchingly good," "bold, honest, and engaging," and "an example of how much comedy can achieve in terms of depth and range." My Dad’s Deaths offers a celebration of family, packed with both laughter and heartfelt moments, demonstrating Jon Bennett’s unique ability to turn deeply personal experiences into comedic gold.

**Just for Laughs Award nomination for Best Comedy (Montreal Fringe, 2013)

**Selected (Just for Laughs Zoofest, 2014)

**Producers Pick Award Winner (London Fringe, 2017)

**Best in Venue Award Winner (London Fringe, 2017)

**Best Comedy Award Winner (Victoria Fringe, 2017)

**Best Solo Show Award nominee (New Zealand Fringe, 2017)

**Best Comedy Award Nominee (Perth Fringe World, 2015)

**Best Solo Show Award WINNER (Orlando Fringe, 2015)

**Best in Venue Award WINNER (Orlando Fringe, 2015)

“Armed only with self-deprecating wit and memories, Bennett reminds us that ordinary people lead extraordinary lives. ★★★★★” - The Sunday Mail (AUS)

"Bennett is a must-see. ★★★★★” - Theatre in London

“Bennett is the patron saint of storytelling. ★★★★★” – Broadway Baby (UK)

“Bennett is a joy to watch. This is bold, honest, engaging and different to a lot of standard comedy on offer. ★★★★★” – Fringe Guru (UK)

“A celebration of family, love and dissimilarities, MY DAD’S DEATHS is layered with emotion between the many laughs. The result is an energetic, engaging, heartfelt, hilarious show. ★★★★★” – Winning at Failing

“Full of heart and packed with laughter, this is how storytelling should be done. ★★★★” – The Skinny (UK)

“An example of how much comedy can achieve in terms of depth and range, that it can be belly laugh funny and emotionally powerful. ★★★★” – Chortle (UK)

“A wonderful storyteller at the top of his game. ★★★★½” - The Plains Producer (AUS)

“The audience is spellbound, laughing, gasping, allowing their emotions to be played upon.” “Gut-wrenchingly good – Bennett is a master storyteller. ★★★★” – Time Out Magazine (AUS)

“a great storyteller. ★★★★” - The Adelaide Advertiser (AUS)

“Without doubt, amongst the best, absolute funniest storytelling I’ve ever heard.” - Db Magazine

Playing With Men is another deeply personal and thought-provoking show from Jon Bennett, reflecting on his early years as a talented junior footballer in Southern Australia. His football career, once filled with promise, faced an abrupt halt when real-life challenges and a community tragedy forced him to reconsider his path. Now, as a celebrated comedic storyteller, Bennett uses this show to explore themes of masculinity, community, friendships, life, and death, all through the lens of football.

Despite Bennett’s shift from the football field to the world stage as a multi-award-winning performer, Playing With Men touches on how certain experiences, especially those shaped by traditional masculinity, remain ever-present. It’s a mix of humor and heartbreak, with Bennett tackling heavy themes while never straying too far from his comedic roots.

The show has received critical acclaim, including a Just for Laughs Best Comedy Award nomination (Montreal Fringe, 2016), a Best Storytelling Award (Sydney Fringe, 2023), and an Outstanding Storytelling Award (Victoria Fringe, 2019). It has been described as both "side-splittingly funny" and "crushingly tragic," with Bennett's honesty, wit, and self-reflective charm captivating audiences.

Just for Laughs Best Comedy Award nomination (Montreal Fringe, 2016)

Best Storytelling Award Winner (Sydney Fringe, 2023)

Outstanding Storytelling Award Winner (Victoria Fringe, 2019)

“ A tour de force who will make you laugh–to tears. ★★★★★” - Otakuno Culture

“Bennett expertly engages us with his wit and self-deprecating charm, so this is a performance we enjoy and endure, together. It is successful in combining the release of a good laugh with a depth of meaning we must process afterwards. ★★★★½” - Stage Whispers

”What I love most about Bennett is he’s an artist who doesn’t just make you laugh or cry, he makes you think. And in Jon Bennett: Playing With Men, he’s at his best.” - London Free Press

“Side-splittingly funny and scathingly self-critical, it’s a valuable work that probes at toxic masculinity and the culture of machismo.” - CVTV

“Made me laugh until I cried. Then laugh some more.” - Theatre In London

“Both funny and crushingly tragic. ★★★★” - Check the Program

“This friendly show is hard not to love. ★★★★” - The Australia Times

"Charming and funny" - Orlando Sentinel

"The gifted story teller engaged the crowd so skilfully, within moments of the show starting you had the impression that you had known Jon since childhood. I couldn’t shake the disarming feeling of intimacy for the entire duration of the show." - CJLO Montreal

"No one can observe life quite like Bennett. His delivery is infectious. Hysterical and heartfelt. A perfect example why Bennett is so excellent as a performer. His authenticity is disarming and invites self-reflection. He doesn’t hide behind his humour or have a schtick. Bennett is so honest about himself, so uncensored and willing to share himself as he is. He talks about events and things that other people would rather forget — and not just the ones that are embarrassingly funny, but also the ones that show a raw, sensitive heart. Just hearing Bennett has the sensation of making one a better person, because he invites the same kind of recognition as he accepts in himself. We are all perfectly imperfect beings." - Montreal Rampage

How I Learned to Hug is yet another masterfully crafted show by Jon Bennett, where he delves into the complex realms of love, loss, sex, and human connection. Set against the surreal backdrop of being detained as a suspected terrorist in the Montreal Airport by a security guard named "Karen".

Bennett weaves his story with his signature mix of humour, absurdity, and raw emotion. As the story unfolds, it becomes less of a love story and more of a reflection on how relationships and experiences shape our ability to connect with others on an emotional level—even something as seemingly simple as learning to hug.

The show has earned widespread acclaim and multiple awards, including Best Comedy at the San Diego Fringe (2018) and nominations for the Just for Laughs Award for Best Comedy (Montreal, 2014) and the Best Comedy Award at Perth Fringe World (2015). Bennett’s ability to combine hilarious observations with poignant personal revelations has made How I Learned to Hug a standout in his collection of storytelling shows.

Audiences and critics alike have praised Bennett's unique storytelling style, highlighting his capacity to blend humor with emotional depth. The show’s glowing reviews emphasize its ability to provoke both laughter and tears, with reviewers consistently acknowledging Bennett’s “masterful narrative skill” and “heart-warmingly honest” storytelling. With a mix of gut-busting humor and vulnerable sincerity, How I Learned to Hug showcases Bennett’s unparalleled ability to make the personal universal, leaving audiences moved, entertained, and contemplating their own journeys through love and human connection.

**Best Comedy Award Winner (San Diego Fringe, 2018)

**Tour Ready Award (New Zealand Fringe Festival, 2018)

**Best Comedy Award Nominee (Perth Fringe World, 2015)

**Just for Laughs Award nomination for Best Comedy (Montreal Fringe, 2014)

“It seems every year that we say Bennett’s show is a must-see and this year’s no different. He has skillfully built upon the foundation that previous shows establish and we are left with a unique blend of gut-busting laughter and emotional resonance in his wake. ★★★★★" - Theatre in London

"Bennett’s stories are as funny as they are heart-warmingly honest.  You will laugh at the hilarious slide show he has prepared, but you will also tear up at the honesty he brings to the stage. ★★★★★" - National Post

"Storytelling genius. ★★★★★" - Edmonton Journal

“Laugh-out-loud bonkers! ★★★★★" - Otakuno Culture

"Bennet is an amazing storyteller. ★★★★½" - Vue Weekly

“The rumours are true – Bennett possesses a masterful narrative skill, taking us on a journey full of heartbreak, joy and a whole lot of dick jokes. He brings depth to the dumb stuff and levity to the heavy stuff, and is totally unafraid of revealing the most brutally personal details of his life story. ★★★★“ - SBS Television (Melbourne)

"While it’s true that everyone has a story, not everyone knows how to tell it. Bennett is a tremendously gifted storyteller, striking a note-perfect mix between observational humour and revealing insights. ★★★★" - Winnipeg Free Press

“There are few Fringe artists with better timing than Bennett, fewer still who can connect so quickly with an audience and tell stories so brilliantly.” - London Free Press

"He’s the real deal – switching from barroom humor to heartstring-tugging emotion on the turn of a dime." - Orlando Sentinel  

“Über-Funny and vulnerable — hold on to your panties, Ladies.“ – Montreal Rampage

"How I learned to Hug is endearing, shocking and heart-warming." - Theatre View

“An expert story teller” - Capital Critics Circle (Montreal)

“Bennett sure knows how to weave a yarn.” – Herald Sun (Melbourne)

What is Jason’s favourite postcards?*

Does Jason believe in Nuclear Disarmament?*

When do you think your best friend’s boyfriend will leave her?*

Audience and comedians come together to play one of the most difficult and baffling board games of all time about early 90s Aussie heart throb, soap and pop star Jason Donovan.

Hosted by Jon Bennett.

*Actual questions from the game.

JUST FOR LAUGHS BEST COMEDY AWARD nominee (Montreal, 2017)

"Exactly what the audiences want. A lot of fun to be had. ★★★★” - The West Australian

"Jon Bennett had me laughing harder than I have laughed in recent memory." - Montreal Theatre Hub

"His silly antics are made endearing by his immediately likable persona." - Westmount Magazine

Jon Bennett can entertain you WHEREVER and WHENEVER you like in this unique and personal experience.

Need some entertainment? Bored and want some amusing company? Got a fundraiser? A corporate event? A Party? A Funeral? Need a nice bedtime story? Got a long boring car trip? Want an break from digging a very deep hole? ANYtime. ANYwhere. For the right price, Jon will be there.

World renowned Australian comedic storyteller Jon Bennett (Pretending Things are a Cock and Fire in the Meth Lab) will perform any one (or two or even ALL SEVEN) of his critically acclaimed, multi-award winning shows, but this time he’s coming to you. You (the audience) can ‘hire’ Jon to perform for you whenever and where ever you would like. Simply email storywhorebookings@gmail.com to arrange your experience. Prices are extremely negotiable.
 

Jon Bennett: JonBenét humorously delves into his bizarre connection to JonBenét Ramsey, the child beauty queen whose tragic and unsolved murder has been a constant, unwelcome association for Bennett throughout his life. This comedic yet reflective performance tackles the strange experience of sharing a name with someone infamous while also questioning if people ever really know who he is—both figuratively and literally.

The show, with its mix of humour and intrigue, has garnered accolades including a Best Comedy Award nomination at Perth Fringe World (2018) and a Tour Ready Award at New Zealand Fringe (2019).

American't is Jon Bennett's latest comedic storytelling show, where he recounts the absurd and chaotic journey of trying to make the U.S. his home. After spending over a decade traveling the world with his shows, Bennett was forced back to his roots in rural Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Living once again with his conservative, religious family for over a year and a half, he faced a dramatic shift from his nomadic lifestyle.

Once pandemic restrictions eased, Bennett finally secured a way to leave Australia and move to the U.S., only to be arrested upon his arrival at the airport. In classic Bennett style, this show transforms his personal misadventures into a hilarious yet reflective narrative about resilience, identity, and the strange experiences that come with navigating life as an international performer.

As always, Bennett blends humor, personal anecdotes, and poignant observations, taking audiences through his rollercoaster of a journey—from his time back home to the chaos of moving across the world. It promises to be another of his raw, relatable, and side-splitting performances.

The show has garnered high praise and multiple awards, including the Patron’s Pick Award at Orlando Fringe (2024) and Best of Fringe at both Tampa Fringe (2023) and Kansas City Fringe (2023). Critics describe it as “a non-stop ride” and “Bennett’s best work,” with his signature blend of humour and emotion resonating deeply with audiences.

PATRON'S PICK AWARD WINNER (Orlando Fringe, 2024)

“Masterful, hilarious and heart breaking. AMERI-CAN’T is a Triumph.” - Broadway World

SELL OUT SHOW AWARD WINNER (Orlando Fringe, 2024)

“He’s turned his experience into one rip-roaring, hilarious show that’s not without a message.” - Otakuno Culture

BEST OF FRINGE WINNER (Tampa Fringe, 2023)

"Bennett’s best work... his most personal show to date. Engaging as ever." - Orlando Sentinel

BEST OF FRINGE WINNER (Kansas City Fringe, 2023)

“Bennett is one of a kind.” - Montreal Rampage

VIP AWARD WINNER (Kansas City Fringe, 2023)

“A breathtaking, non-stop ride, entertaining and deeply personal.” - KC Reviews

“A perfect mix of comedy and heart-warming storytelling… with a happy ending.” - Canadian Fringe Reviews