Taruna Jayawardhana's 'A Classic Tale'.

There is something delightfully audacious about building an entire one man show around a piece of teenage creative writing and then treating it with both sincere theatrical care and merciless comic scrutiny. A Classic Tale, written, performed and produced by Liam Hartley and based on an original story by Taruna Jayawardhana, leans into the audacity with elan. It transforms a young man’s Year 8 English assignment into a gleefully intelligent theatrical event that celebrates imagination, while joyfully poking holes in narrative logic, character motivation, and the unexpected writing choices of adolescent fantasy.

Hartley is a assured presence on stage. As a performer, he demonstrates sharp comic timing, a relaxed authority with the room, and an instinctive understanding of pacing that keeps the audience fully engaged from the outset. His ability to oscillate between storyteller and commentator is impressive, particularly in a solo format where energy management is everything. He holds the audience with confidence and warmth, and never lets the show drift or lose momentum.

One of the production’s most effective devices is its use of audience participation. Rather than relying on shock or discomfort, Hartley approaches these moments with generosity and care. Participants are clearly guided, and encouraged more than they’re ridiculed as they become genuine collaborators in the unfolding absurdity. The result is a sense of collective play that heightens the comedy while reinforcing the show’s underlying affection for the source material. These interactions aren’t gimmicky filler; they actively support the narrative and the humour.

Under the direction of Calum Johnston, the show is tightly shaped and confidently restrained. Johnston’s comedic hand is evident in the clarity of the dramaturgy and the precision of its absurdist beats. The production understands exactly when to lean into theatricality and when to let the joke land cleanly. The technical elements are deployed with similar finesse. Lighting and sound shifts are purposeful and responsive, perfectly underscoring tonal changes. The PowerPoint presentation, along with the original artwork it features, is integrated seamlessly into the performance, functioning as both visual storytelling and analytical tool. It supports the humour while deepening the audience’s engagement with the narrative’s construction and collapse.

What makes A Classic Tale particularly satisfying is its balance of intelligence and accessibility. While the show never shies away from clever insight, it remains resolutely unpretentious. The humour is generous rather than smug, inviting the audience to laugh with the work rather than feel tested by it. In a cultural landscape where live performance often asks audiences to grapple with weighty themes, this production offers something rarer: an evening of unfiltered joy that is still underpinned by craft, insight and respect for storytelling as an art form.

The show’s closing sentiment, encouraging audiences to embrace their own creative impulses, feels sincere without becoming too preachy or saccharin. After witnessing an earnest teenage story reframed as communal celebration, it is difficult not to feel reinvigorated by the simple act of making something and sharing it. A Classic Tale is smart, exuberant and deeply entertaining theatre. It is a celebration of creativity, a masterclass in comic storytelling, and a reminder of how powerful joy can be when it is handled with intelligence and care. Pure theatrical fun. Clever, creative, and laugh out loud funny. I’d see this show again in a heartbeat!

A Classic Tale plays Melbourne International Comedy Festival on April 16 and 18, 2026.

Kitty Goodall

Photography by Kris Anderson and David Bacatan