Comedian

Nelly has had a mind-boggling array of jobs from high-level policy and research jobs to working at Big Rooster (guess who was the big rooster?). She’s finally found one she likes as a comedian, social commentator and author.

How did Nelly become a comedian?

Nelly fell into comedy quite by accident when she attended Linda Haggar’s Jeez Louise Funny Women’s Forum 2002 as a writer and somehow got roped into getting up on stage for the Faux Show. Battling nerves, she did an impromptu stand-up comedy piece and, as luck would have it, was spotted by a booking agent who offered her a “proper” gig at the legendary Prince Pat Hotel in Collingwood. Her friends came, they laughed and then some more stuff happened and she became a comedian.

Highlights

  • Two Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, 8 Melbourne International Comedy Festivals, 4 Melbourne Fringe Festivals

  • Five tours of Australia

  • Regular guest on the wireless, telly and various podcasts

  • Author of What Women Want – part hilarious memoir, part incisive manifesto - due for release by Random House in 2012

  • Creator and star of the comedy DVD The Talk – a sexual health and ethics DVD for teens (released by Hopscotch and Dirty Work Comedy in 2011)

  • Winner: National Triple J Raw Comedy Competition (2003)

  • Nominated for the Golden Gibbo Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for most innovative show (2006)

  • Directed Barry Award Winner Maria Bamford (USA) in Plan B

  • Has written and performed several ground-breaking shows with CASA House and the Royal Women’s Hospital combining health promotion and comedy including a show for young women about sexual health called The Condom Dialogues and one about consent called The No Means No Show

  • She is a highly sought-after MC, key-note speaker, dinner speaker and facilitator and has done 100’s of gigs at comedy clubs, conferences, debates, planning days, parties and AGM’s

  • Listed as one of Australia’s “most innovative thinkers” in The Age Newspaper’s, The Zone in 2011

What is she on about?

Nelly’s comedy is often described as “intelligent” and “sophisticated” which amuses her no end given that the highlight of her year is usually the new season of Survivor. She does concede a strong interest in all things political and sociological though and did study for an extraordinary amount of time for someone without a real job. She is currently doing post-graduate study in psychology at Melbourne University, just for fun.

Nelly is a highly sought-after corporate speaker specialising in health promotion including the physical, mental and social aspects of health and well-being, women’s health and adolescent sexual health, and she regularly performs at corporate and private functions on these and related topics.

“There's just no explaining certain phenomena. Why do galaxies not fall apart under the weight of dark matter? Why is A Current Affair still on television? And why, more to the point, is dear Nelly Thomas not an enormous star? With the moxie of a babe who cut her teeth doing RSL floor shows and the “edge” of an “alternative comedian, Thomas is a beguiling fusion of old with new. Much, much more importantly, she's really very funny.”

Helen Razer, The Age Newspaper (****) and City Search

“Nelly Thomas is rehearsed, confident, and extremely funny. I Coulda Been A Sailor will make you consider all the choices you’ve made in your own life and hopefully – like Thomas – you’ll come out happy with where you are. Nelly Thomas coulda been a sailor. Luckily for us she became a comedian. See this show.”

John Richards on Aussietheatre.com

“Astringent, intelligent … very good.”

Metro Newspaper, Edinburgh Fringe