Aussie’s Vs Pom’s

1 October 2026, The Elephant and Wheelbarrow

‘An English pub, an old rivalry and no neutral ground.‘

Aussies vs Poms at the Elephant & Wheelbarrow turns a familiar rivalry into a lively Fringe contest and staging it in an English pub makes the whole idea click.

The premise is simple: put Australian and British perspectives head to head, then let cultural habits, national stereotypes and everyday misunderstandings supply the ammunition. The pub setting feels like part of the joke, giving the show the natural energy of a friendly argument over a pint. Every story becomes another round in the grudge match, and the intimate room keeps the audience close to the action.

What makes the concept work is its flexibility. The comedy can jump from accents and travel mishaps to sport, manners, weather and the strange assumptions each country makes about the other. There is enough familiarity for the crowd to recognise the references, but enough unpredictability to stop the rivalry feeling like a recycled pub argument. The best moments come when a throwaway observation becomes evidence for one side, only to be swiftly overturned by the next comic.

Terry North keeps the tug of war moving, while Brad Oakes, Kelsey De Almeida and Wayne Deakin each bring a quick burst of Aussie or British flavour without overwhelming the central idea.

Simple, sharp and perfectly at home in its English-pub setting, Aussies vs Poms succeeds because it treats national identity as a playful battleground rather than a lecture. With Dave O’Neil joining the lineup this weekend, the Australian side will have extra firepower but, appropriately, the audience may still decide who wins. Let the battle commence!