Performers at the Festival

Below are just a few of the Australian guests who will be performing at the festival.

Australia

David Callan

The Essentials: David Callan is the only spook to swap the spying game for the comedy game. After working for ASIO for seven years, he was kindly asked to leave in the interests of national security by a Director General who does not wish to be identified.

The Shows: Since leaving ASIO, Dan has cut a swathe across the face of Australian entertainment with innumerable radio, television and film credits and a reputation for showing no fear in front of hecklers. So daring is he that he married a heckler just to keep her quiet. David has spent the last two years touring his one-man show I Spied – Confessions of an ex-ASIO spook, becoming the only show to be awarded six out of five stars at the Adelaide Festival, taking out the Critics Choice Award, and leading to interviews with Andrew Denton, George Negus and several ASIO officers.

Tidbits: David has been described as "brilliant", "an exceptionally engaging performer" and "likely to bring Western Civilization to its knees and not call in the morning."

Rebecca De Unamuno

The Essentials: Rebecca began performing with the Sydney University Dramatic Society whilst completing a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Teaching (Drama/English). She has performed in numerous radio, tv, film and stage productions. Rebecca began playing Theatresports in 1996 and has performed regularly at Belvoir St Theatre and the Enmore Theatre. She is a two-time Cranston Cup Champion and is a Theatresports teacher, corporate performer and trainer. Rebecca was a member of the Australian team who won the World Improv Championships (2001 Just For Laughs Festival, Montreal) and was named Player of the Tournament. Recently Rebecca received a Moosehead Award for her first solo impro show Open to Suggestion (2005 Melbourne International Comedy Festival).

The Shows: On radio Rebecca has been the voice-over artist for the Triple J Breakfast Show and for The Triple M Chaser. She has also been a co-host of The Late Night Chaser (Triple M Sydney), co-host of the Triple M Breakfast Show in Sydney, co-host of Tom and Subby (Triple M) and is a regular guest on The Shebang (Triple M) and Thank God It’s Friday (ABC 702). Rebecca was also a voice-over artist on the 2004 ARIA nominated Hollywood Motel (Warner Music). Her television credits include The Election Chaser (ABC TV), The Glass House (ABC TV), Strongbow Think Fresh Impro (The Comedy Channel), Big Bite (Seven Network), CNNNN (ABC TV), Hamish and Andy (Seven Network), The Chaser Decides (ABC TV), The Comedy Channel Promos (T he Comedy Channel), Comedy Inc-The Late Shift (Nine Network) and Kath and Kim (ABC TV). Film roles include the feature film Dags and the short films Muffled Love (2001 Tropfest finalist), Tragic Love (2nd place 2002 Tropfest) and Garbage Man (2005 Tropfest finalist). Rebecca has many stage credits including as writer/performer for Larfapalooza (Sydney Comedy Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival), Impro @ the store (Sydney Comedy Store), 3 Radicals (2001 Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Cops on Heat (2002 Melbourne Comedy Festival), Text in the City (Dublin Improv/London Comedy Store Players, 2002 Edinburgh Festival), Crash Boom Bang Theory (2002 Adelaide Fringe Festival, 2002 Edinburgh Festival), Impro Sundae (The Comic’s Lounge), Spontaneous Broadway (Burberry P roductions), The Great Debate (2004 Melbourne International Comedy Festival), A Family Affair (B-Sharp/Drama Lab Productions) and Cirque du Chaser (Big Laugh Comedy Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, National Tour).

Tidbits: In 2003 Rebecca was nominated for Most Outstanding Newcomer to Television at the inaugural Australian Comedy Awards.

Josephine O'Reilly

The Essentials: Josephine O'Reilly returned to Australia after nine years as an actor, writer and director in comedy in Europe and the United States. As one of the hugely successful Irish comedy trio, The Nualas, Josephine has enjoyed sell-out extended theatre seasons in New York, London, Scotland (at the Edinburgh Festival), Ireland and England.

The Shows: For five years Josephine was a principal performer and Artistic Director of the American company Boom Chicago, Europe's premier comedy ensemble. Since returning to Australia, Josephine devised and performed Tan José with Tanya Bulmer at the Melbourne and Sydney Comedy Festivals.

Tidbits: Boom Chicago, The Nualas and Tan José have received critical acclaim in the international press, including The New York Times, The London Times and Independent, Time Out, The Evening Standard, and The Melbourne Age. Josephine trained in opera at the NSW Conservatorium of Music and holds Bachelors of Arts and Social Work from the University of Sydney.