Ellen Briggs - Mid-Life Mayhem @ Dalrymple Hotel 23/10/25

Ellen Briggs opened her comedy show, Mid-Life Mayhem, with a dry observation about her management team’s choice of venue: a cavernous public bar in industrial Garbutt, where the regular clientele needed to be kicked out so she could set up the audience space. It was a fitting start to a performance that thrived on the absurdity of real life, delivered with biting wit and unflinching honesty.

Briggs, who hails from Mullumbimby in northern New South Wales brings a distinctly regional flavour to her storytelling. Her reflections on small-town living are both affectionate and sharply observed, setting the tone for a show that is as grounded as it is outrageous.

At the heart of Mid-Life Mayhem is Briggs’ candid exploration of life after the chaos of child-rearing. Having navigated the trials of parenting teenage boys, and more than a quarter-century of marriage, she now turns her attention to the peculiar terrain of middle age. Her anecdotes about raising twin sons, complete with tales of navigating their fascination with online adult content, and their inability to locate a laundry basket, are delivered with a mix of exasperation and affection that resonates deeply with anyone who’s parented boys.

Briggs doesn’t shy away from the more uncomfortable aspects of aging. Her commentary on menopause is both raw and hilarious, touching on everything from hot flashes to the indignities of hair removal. Her description of a recent visit to a beautician elicited groans of recognition from the audience. She also tackles the physical changes that come with age, including the slow betrayal of gravity and the challenges of working with yoga instructors.

One of the show’s most poignant moments comes when Briggs speaks about the loss of her mother. Rather than veering into sentimentality, she finds humour in the rituals of the twilight years. It’s a testament to her skill as a performer that she can move seamlessly between laughter and reflection without losing the audience.

Briggs also offers a window into her social circle, including friends navigating the world of online dating. Her observations on Tinder—swiping left or right on the few remaining eligible singles in town—are sharply drawn and laugh-out-loud funny. Her tale of a chance encounter with cricket legend Merv Hughes was a particular highlight too, as was her sharing of the trials of being her husband’s personal barber, a role she took on during lockdown and now regrets deeply.

Mid-Life Mayhem is a masterclass in observational comedy. Ellen Briggs delivers a performance that is fearless, relatable, and consistently entertaining as she mines humour from the everyday, no matter how messy or uncomfortable, making her a compelling comedic voice.