Melbourne International Comedy Festival review

Expectations are low for most social media comedians’ stand-up  shows, but Tom Sainsbury can most definitely do the job.

A hit on Instagram, where he has amassed 280,000 followers for characters such as an overbearing boss or 1980s mum, in person he’s an endearing, low-key storyteller, hooking the audience in to his self-effacing tales.

In every one of his stories, he’s on the back foot, from his ill-advised corporate booking for a room full of speedway-loving alphas to an awkward run-in with the cops on a rare occasion this usually cautious driver decided to put his foot down.

His personality seemed set from an early age, with a story about him going above and beyond to be the teachers’ pet – although the yarn also reveals a vindictive side, way out of character with the mild-mannered fellow on the mic now. It’s an amusing disconnect. 

Sainsbury’s fan base is predominantly middle-aged women – he knows as much from social media data – and you could see his unthreatening nice-guy personality appealing to a certain mothering instinct. Although his socially awkward manner will endear him to a demographic beyond that.

His telling of the shaggy-dog stories is gentle and dry, drawing the room in gently – even if most people here are surely fans already. Some of the anecdotes don’t  amount to much in the grand scheme of things, but the journey is enjoyable and he can certainly forge a droll, witty turn of phrase.

The stand-out is the yarn about being caught speeding, which transcends his gentle delivery to become an outrageous farce as he takes drastic – and dumb – measures to get out a fine he cannot afford, only to make things a hundred times messier.

As with all his stories, Sainsbury’s authenticity drives the comedy home. At a proportionate speed, of course. 

• Tom Sainsbury: Lessons Not Learnt is on at Trades Hall at 7.40pm (6.40pm Sundays; no show Mondays) until April 19. Extra shows at 3pm tomorrow and next Sunday at Melbourne Town Hall

Review date: 11 Apr 2026
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Melbourne International Comedy Festival