For all of Jon Bennett’s latest social media updates and tour dates, visit: linktr.ee/jonbennettcomedy.
About Jon Bennett
Jon Bennett is a world-renowned comedic storyteller and 7-time Just For Laughs Award nominee (Montreal, 2011-2017). Known for his ability to blend humour with deeply personal stories, Jon has carved a unique space in the world of comedy, and after 20 years in the business, he’s recognized as one of the most prolific storyteller-comedians touring today.
Career Highlights:
12-time Selection – The Moth Main Stage (NYC, London, Boston, LA, Austin)
Selected Off-Broadway at Soho Theatre, New York (2019)
2-time New York Times Best-Seller (The Moth’s Occasional Magic, 2019, and How to Tell a Story, 2022)
Countless 5-star reviews in top-tier publications worldwide
His impressive repertoire includes nine one-hour, critically acclaimed shows, such as:
Pretending Things Are a Cock
Fire in the Meth Lab
My Dad's Deaths
How I Learned to Hug
IT’S RABBIT NIGHT!!!
Playing With Men
Jon Bennett vs Jason Donovan
Jon Bennett: JonBenét
AMERICAN’T
Jon's comedic storytelling has been showcased at over 145 festivals worldwide, consistently winning awards like:
Critics Choice Award Winner (Orlando Fringe, 2015)
Best Storytelling Award Winner (Sydney Fringe, 2023)
National Artist of the Year – St. Louis Fringe (2022)
Funniest Show Award Winner – London Fringe (2015)
Best Comedy Award Winner – Victoria Fringe (2017)
In addition to traditional venues, Jon’s "do every gig" philosophy has seen him perform everywhere, from iconic stages like the Paramount Theatre in Austin, The Palace Theatre in LA, and The Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York, and in theatres and comedy clubs to less conventional spaces like cruise ships, jails, bars, rehab centers, schools, and even nursing homes.
He’s shared stages with internationally renowned bands, fellow comedians, and even appeared in the same venues graced by Presidents Lincoln and Obama.
Jon’s work as a storyteller has not only earned him a reputation for his unrelenting work ethic but also for his ability to connect deeply with audiences. His performances are a potent mix of humor and honesty, leaving audiences laughing and reflecting long after the show ends.
Critics have raved:
“Bennett is the patron saint of storytelling. ★★★★★” – Broadway Baby (UK)
“Scorchingly funny.” – New York Daily News
“Wonderfully funny with a hefty layer of emotion under the laughs.” – Los Angeles Times
"Bennett is an elite comedian with a masterful delivery, sense of timing, and superlative writing skills. ★★★★★" – Theatre In London
After a decade of globe-trotting performances, Jon now calls Portland, Oregon, home—though his nomadic spirit means he’s never far from his next show.
Awards:
7 X Just for Laughs Award nominee (Montreal Fringe, 2011-2017)
12 X Selection - The Moth Main Stage (NYC, London, Boston, LA, Austin)
2 X Best Comedy Award nominee (Sydney Fringe, 2023)
Best Storytelling Award Winner (Sydney Fringe, 2023)
National Artist of the Year Winner (St. Louis Fringe, 2022)
Inspiration Award Winner (Minnesota Fringe, 2022)
2 X NY Times Best Seller (The Moth Occasional Magic, 2019; How to Tell a Story, 2022)
Selected Off Broadway - Soho Theatre (New York, 2019)
2 X The Moth Story Slam Winner (New York, 2014; LA, 2019)
Best Storyteller Award Winner (Victoria Fringe, 2019)
Outstanding Storytelling Award Winner (London Fringe, 2018)
5 X Best Comedy Award nominee (Perth Fringe, 2012-2015, 2018)
Best Performer & Best Script Award Winner (Nelson Fringe, 2018)
Best Comedy Award Winner (Victoria Fringe, 2017; San Diego Fringe, 2018)
2 X Best International Comedian nominee (New Zealand Comedy Awards, 2017-2018)
Selected Cruise Ship Guest Entertainer (Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, 2018, 2019, 2023)
Producers Pick Award Winner (London Fringe, 2017)
Best Performance Winner (Victoria Fringe, 2016)
Golden Gibbo Award nominee (Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 2015)
Funniest Show Award Winner (London Fringe, 2015)
Pick of the Fringe Award Winner (Calgary Fringe, 2015; Boulder Fringe, 2015)
Critics Choice Award Winner (Orlando Fringe, 2015)
Critics Pick of the Fringe Award Winner (San Diego Fringe, 2014)
2 X Selection - Just for Laughs Zoofest (Montreal, 2013-2014)
Pick of the Fringe Award Winner (Winnipeg Fringe, 2011)
Critical Acclaim:
“Armed only with self-deprecating wit and memories, Bennett reminds us that ordinary people lead extraordinary lives. ★★★★★” - The Sunday Mail (AUS)
“Bennett has an uncanny and unnerving ability to make you crease up with laughter before dropping a perfectly timed bombshell.” ★★★★ – Time Out (UK)
“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, layered with emotion between the many laughs. The result is an energetic, engaging, heartfelt, hilarious show. ★★★★★” – Winning at Failing (AUS)
"Bennett is a must-see. ★★★★★” — Theatre in London (UK)
“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)
Full of heart and packed with laughter, this is how storytelling should be done. ★★★★” – The Skinny (UK)
“Jon Bennett is relatable from the get-go.” ★★★★★ – National Post (USA)
“Charming, engaging, and endearing.” ★★★★★ – The Star Phoenix (CAN)
“His 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 (CAN)
“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)
“A wonderful storyteller at the top of his game. ★★★★½” — The Plains Producer (AUS)
“The funniest show at the fringe. Don’t miss it.” ★★★★½ – Calgary Herald (CAN)
“Fantastic comedic storytelling.” ★★★★½ – Channel 44 (AUS)
“Instantly likeable, Bennett is a deft storyteller with a frank, confessional style that blends pathos and humour to great effect.” ★★★★½ – Uptown Magazine (CAN)
“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)
“Masterful, hilarious and heart breaking. A Triumph.” – Broadway World (USA)
“A great storyteller. ★★★★” — The Adelaide Advertiser (AUS)
“Without doubt, amongst the best, absolute funniest storytelling I’ve ever heard.” — Db 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)
“Jon Bennett sets the gold standard in storytelling. This show is powerful, brutally honest, and drenched in rich humour.” – Heckler (AUS)
“Timeless joy.” – Herald Sun (AUS)
“An entrancing hour of compelling stories.” ★★★★ – Chortle (UK)
“Fire in the Meth Lab is f*ing hilarious!” – Forget the Box (CAN)
“Über-watchable.” – Charpo Canada (CAN)
“Dick-obsessed humour goes much deeper.” ★★★★ – Now Toronto (CAN)
“Bennett delivers belly laugh after belly laugh.” ★★★★ – London Free Press (UK)
“Bennett is a natural storyteller and will have you completely engrossed.” – Montreal Mirror (CAN)
“An expert storyteller.” – Capital Critics Circle (Montreal)
“A breathtaking, non-stop ride, entertaining and deeply personal.” – KC Reviews (USA)
Where it all began
Before becoming internationally recognized for Pretending Things Are a Cock, Jon Bennett’s comedic journey began at just 19, performing regular stand-up shows. His early career included writing and acting in award-winning TV shows like The Ugly Stick on Channel 31. After dabbling in TV and radio, Jon transitioned to storytelling comedy, a shift that would define his career.
In 2007, Jon began performing at storytelling nights around Melbourne, including the popular Willow Tales, which he now hosts. By 2009, his knack for humor took a hilarious twist when he created the viral internet sensation Pretending Things Are a Cock (PTAAC). What started as a joke among friends quickly spiraled into a successful book, photography exhibition, and live performances. Jon’s PTAAC shows have delighted audiences at major comedy festivals across the globe, including Melbourne, Vancouver, Edinburgh Fringe, and Just for Laughs (Montreal), where he was nominated for the Best Comedy award in 2010.
Aside from his infamous phallus-themed humor, Jon is a masterful storyteller. He has hosted several storytelling nights in Melbourne and brought his captivating shows to cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and London. A regular performer at The Moth, Jon won the coveted Moth StorySlam in 2013.
In 2012, Jon premiered My Dad’s Deaths at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, a show that earned a Just for Laughs Best Comedy Award nomination and received glowing 5-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe. The following year, Jon debuted Fire in the Meth Lab, a gripping, hilarious story about his troubled older brother. The show received critical acclaim and earned him further accolades, including a third Just for Laughs Best Comedy nomination and the Centaur Award for Best Production at the Montreal Fringe.
Since 2014, Jon has continued to tour internationally, performing his one-man shows, including PTAAC, My Dad’s Deaths, and Fire in the Meth Lab. His work has earned prestigious awards, including the Critics Choice Award for Best Solo Show at the Orlando Fringe, Funniest Show at the London Fringe, and now multiple nominations for the Just for Laughs Award.
In 2014, Jon impressed Edinburgh Fringe audiences by bringing three separate shows, including his first family-friendly production, AAA Batteries (Not Included), which sold out its 26-show run. In 2015, Jon was nominated for two Perth Fringe World Awards for Best Comedy, earned the coveted Golden Gibbo Award nomination at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and received his fifth Just for Laughs Best Comedy nomination.
Now with an incredible track record spanning 145 festivals over four continents, Jon Bennett’s storytelling continues to captivate audiences around the world. His combination of humor, heart, and extraordinary storytelling cements his place as one of the most innovative comedic voices on the global stage.