Dane Simpson was a Deadly Funny national finalist in 2015; since then, it has been a fast-rising trajectory for this Wagga based comedian with a whirlwind of corporate gigs, tours, and festival runs – as both a solo artist and as part of Aborigi-LOL. Dane has appeared on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow, Channel 10’s Have You Been Paying Attention, Get Krackin, and in feature film rom-com The Merger. He also produces the monthly Riverina Comedy Club and is a programmer/ producer to the Wagga Comedy Festival every year when there isn’t a pandemic. During lockdown, Dane became host of cult-hit Servo Bingo – an interactive online show revolving around the vehicles and characters turning up at the service station opposite Thirsty Crow brewery in Wagga. Yes, it was as silly and fun as it sounds.
‘A brilliant highlight’ – The Age
‘Massively talented’ – Time Out
‘Dane Simpson is proving that the best comedy can be found in the most genuine human experiences’ – Daily Advertiser
Fun facts
* There is a sizeable mural of Dane on the side of a Wagga building alongside soccer champion Jada Whyman.
* His Mum, now retired, use to lecture in Indigenous Education at Melbourne University and was a
teaching fellow at Charles Sturt University.
* His Dad holds the Wagga record for most finger clicks in a minute and owns a didgeridoo with
pictures of Michael Jackson painted on it.
* Dane hosted a Harry Potter themed trivia night dressed as Ron Weasley (picture it for a second).
Major Performance History
2021 The Weekly – ABC
2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival – Host Deadly Funny Comedy Competition Grand Final 2021
2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival – Host RAW Comedy Competition Grand Final 2020/2021
2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival – Didgeridoozy
2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival – Best of Wagga Wagga
2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival – Dave Hughes & Friends
2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Oxfam Gala
2021 Adelaide Fringe – Fire Drum Fun
2020 Servo Bingo
2020 Adelaide Fringe – Aborigi-LOL: The Return of the Boomerang
2020 Perth Fringe World
2019 Adelaide Fringe – Aborigi-LOL
2019 Perth Fringe World – Sold out shows – Aborigi-LOL
2019 NRL Indigenous All Stars Camp
2018 Geraldine Hickey’s Max Headroom Comedy Special – 3RRR
2018 Sydney Fringe Festival – Rough Draft
2018 Melbourne Fringe Festival – Aborigi-LOL
2018 The Gold Coast XXI Commonwealth Games Festival
2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala
2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival show – Aborigi-LOL Sold out Season
2018 Have You Been Paying Attention? – Channel 10
2018 Fearless Comedy Gala (Canberra Theatre Centre)
2018 Falls Festival – Marion Bay
2018 Get Krack!n – ABC
2018 The Merger – Featured Extra
2017 Aboriginal Advancement League Inc – 60th Anniversary Festival
2017 Gateway Health Multicultural Clinic
2017 Blackout Comedy Night – Wagga Wagga/Albury (Producer/Performer)
2017 Floriade – Nightfest
2017 Fearless Comedy Gala (Canberra Theatre Centre)
2017 Wagga Wagga Comedy Festival – Wagga Wagga vs Canberra (Producer/Performer)
2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow (18 shows across regional VIC)
2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Sold out season – Aborigi-LOL
2017 ABC TV – Comedy Up Late
2017 Reconciliation Gala (Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne)
2017 Falls Festival – Lorne
2016 Blackout Comedy Night – Wagga Wagga/Albury (Producer/Performer)
2016 Fearless Comedy Gala (Canberra Theatre Centre)
2016 NSW State Lands Councils Conference
2016 Wagga Wagga Comedy Festival – Riverina Comedy Club (Producer/Performer)
2016 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Sell out shows – Aborigi-LOL
2016 Aboriginal Comedy AllStars tour (48 shows across regional SA, VIC, NSW, QLD, NT and WA)
2015 Deadly Funny competition, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, NSW winner