Pretending Things are a Cock is the product of Bennett’s three years of global wandering, and combines the artistic, phallic-filled photographic display with hilarious and surprisingly heart-wrenching tales from Bennett’s life.
This Just for Laughs award-nominated show for Best Comedy has now been performed to sell-out audiences and critical acclaim world wide. The show has toured to some of the biggest festivals in the world including the renowned Edinburgh Fringe (2012) and Just for Laughs Zoofest in Montreal (2013). A unique stand-up experience, PTAAC is a hilarious, but also strangely affecting pot-holed journey into the idiosyncratic world of Jon Bennett.
Just for Laughs Award nomination for Best Comedy (Montreal Fringe, 2010)
Pick of the Fringe Award (Winnipeg Fringe, 2011)
Selected (Just for Laughs Zoofest, 2013)
Critics Pick of the Fringe Award (San Diego Fringe, 2014)
Funniest Show Award (London Fringe, 2015)
“Instantly likeable, Bennett is a deft storyteller with a frank, confessional style that blends pathos and humour to great effect. ★★★★½” – Uptown Magazine (CAN)
“Dick obsessed humor goes much deeper. ★★★★” - Now Toronto
“Bennett delivers belly laugh after belly laugh. ★★★★” - London Free Press
“Jon Bennett is such a warm and charismatic performer he turns one of the most puerile concepts into something quite special indeed. ★★★★” - Hairline Reviews (UK)
“at the end of this hilarious and thoughtful hour, no one seems to want to leave the room. ★★★★” – Edmonton Journal (CAN)
“true brilliance ★★★★” – Vue Weekly (CAN)
“Bennett has a near-mystical ability to spin a yarn, bringing characters and places to vivid life.” – The Skinny (UK)
“Part travelogue, part personal adventure, Bennett tells these stories engagingly, swinging nicely between the hilarious and the sublime.” – Fest Magazine (UK)
“The bad-travel stories of Bill Bryson, the familial weirdness of Augusten Burroughs, the sharp wit of David Sedaris and slides that range from the bizarre to the ridiculously hilarious.” – CBC Manitoba (CAN)
“Delightful and enthralling” – Australian Comedy Review (AUS) “Jon is smart, funny, engaging and talented.” – The Herald Sun (AUS)
“the indisputable fact that if your inner schoolboy needs a giggle, Jon Bennett is your messiah.” – UQ Events Arts & Entertainment (CAN)
“You see, the show is about more than Jon telling funny stories on stage. It is the beginning of a friendship in which you are his confidant. It is why after the show he invites you to have a beer with him, and why I feel comfortable calling him by his first name.”- Newshit Magazine (AUS)
“It needs to be seen to be believed” “Ladies and gentlemen, this is not your average run-of-the-mill comedy show.” “Ever get the feeling you’re being played with by a prankster with Andy Kaufman sensibilities?”– RHUM Magazine (AUS)
“Bennett is a natural storyteller and will have you completely engrossed” – Montreal Mirror (CAN)
Jon Bennett’s dad always wanted his son to be an author… like Banjo Patterson. From the creator of the internationally acclaimed Pretending Things Are a Cock comes the story of the strange relationship between a comedian and his extremely conservative father; a man who has died… more than once.
Just for Laughs Award nomination for Best Comedy (Montreal Fringe, 2013)
Selected (Just for Laughs Zoofest, 2014) **
Best Comedy Award Nominee (Perth Fringe World, 2015)
“Armed only with self-deprecating wit and memories, Bennett reminds us that ordinary people lead extraordinary lives. ★★★★★” - The Sunday Mail (AUS)
“Bennett is the patron saint of storytelling. ★★★★★” – Broadway Baby (UK)
“Bennett is a joy to watch. This is bold, honest, engaging and different to a lot of standard comedy on offer. ★★★★★” – Fringe Guru (UK)
“Full of heart and packed with laughter, this is how storytelling should be done. ★★★★” – The Skinny (UK) “
An example of how much comedy can achieve in terms of depth and range, that it can be belly laugh funny and emotionally powerful. ★★★★” – Chortle (UK)
“A wonderful storyteller at the top of his game. ★★★★½” - The Plains Producer (AUS)
“The audience is spellbound, laughing, gasping, allowing their emotions to be played upon.”
“Gut-wrenchingly good – Bennett is a master storyteller. ★★★★” – Time Out Magazine (AUS)
“a great storyteller. ★★★★” - The Adelaide Advertiser (AUS)
“Without doubt, amongst the best, absolute funniest storytelling I’ve ever heard.” - Db Magazine
Dear Brother, How’s jail? How many cigarettes does it cost for a picture of a naked lady? Are you getting really strong? I’ve written a show about you, is that ok? You’re in jail so you can’t really say no. Love from your little brother, Jon.
Renowned Australian storyteller Jon Bennett tells the amazingly sordid and bizarre story of his brother’s life. A sometimes shocking and chaotic tale, Bennett recounts his brother’s experiences with both charismatic hilarity and heart-warming, poignant reflection. Fire in the Meth Lab tells of drug dealers, bikers, high-speed car chases, fights, crime, prison, vomit, exploding houses and even cancer.
The show explores brotherly relationships and how siblings with the same upbringing can choose very separate paths.
Just for Laughs Award nomination for Best Comedy (Montreal Fringe, 2014)
Best Comedy Award Nominee (Perth Fringe World, 2014)
Audience Best in Venue Fringe Award (Orlando Fringe, 2014)
Sell Out Show Award (Orlando Fringe, 2014)
Sold out Season (Brisbane Comedy Festival 2015)
Selected (Just for Laughs Zoofest, 2014)
"This show will make you laugh, even after you've left the venue." ★★★★★ - Vue Weekly
"Hilarious." ★★★★★ - Edmonton Sun
"Incinerates your expectations of the solo confessional, this flamable Australian is in a league of his own." ★★★★½ - Edmonton Journal
“Brilliant ★★★★½” - Rip it Up Magazine (AUS)
“An entrancing hour of compelling stories ★★★★” - Chortle (UK)
“Bennett has an uncanny and unnerving ability to make you crease up with laughter before dropping a perfectly timed bombshell. ★★★★” - Time Out (UK)
“It took me several minutes to regain my hearing after the show, not from Bennett’s delivery but from the level of laughter the packed crowd generated. ★★★★” – The West Australian
“Jon Bennett sets the gold standard in storytelling. This show is powerful, brutally honest, and drenched in the rich humour of pathos. This is unlike any other show you’ll find at the festival. Get your hit of raw and real comedy. This is my pick of the festival so far.” – Heckler (AUS)
How I Learned to Hug is yet another masterfully crafted show by Jon Bennett, where he delves into the complex realms of love, loss, sex, and human connection. Set against the surreal backdrop of being detained as a suspected terrorist in the Montreal Airport by a security guard named “Karen”.
Bennett weaves his story with his signature mix of humour, absurdity, and raw emotion. As the story unfolds, it becomes less of a love story and more of a reflection on how relationships and experiences shape our ability to connect with others on an emotional level—even something as seemingly simple as learning to hug.
The show has earned widespread acclaim and multiple awards, including Best Comedy at the San Diego Fringe (2018) and nominations for the Just for Laughs Award for Best Comedy (Montreal, 2014) and the Best Comedy Award at Perth Fringe World (2015). Bennett’s ability to combine hilarious observations with poignant personal revelations has made How I Learned to Hug a standout in his collection of storytelling shows.
Audiences and critics alike have praised Bennett’s unique storytelling style, highlighting his capacity to blend humor with emotional depth. The show’s glowing reviews emphasize its ability to provoke both laughter and tears, with reviewers consistently acknowledging Bennett’s “masterful narrative skill” and “heart-warmingly honest” storytelling. With a mix of gut-busting humor and vulnerable sincerity, How I Learned to Hug showcases Bennett’s unparalleled ability to make the personal universal, leaving audiences moved, entertained, and contemplating their own journeys through love and human connection.
Tour Ready Award (New Zealand Fringe Festival, 2018)
Best Comedy Award Nominee (Perth Fringe World, 2015)
**Just for Laughs Award nomination for Best Comedy (Montreal Fringe, 2014)
“It seems every year that we say Bennett’s show is a must-see and this year’s no different. He has skillfully built upon the foundation that previous shows establish and we are left with a unique blend of gut-busting laughter and emotional resonance in his wake. ★★★★★" - Theatre in London
"Bennett’s stories are as funny as they are heart-warmingly honest. You will laugh at the hilarious slide show he has prepared, but you will also tear up at the honesty he brings to the stage. ★★★★★" - National Post
"Storytelling genius. ★★★★★" - Edmonton Journal
“Laugh-out-loud bonkers! ★★★★★" - Otakuno Culture
"Bennett is an amazing storyteller. ★★★★½" - Vue Weekly
“The rumours are true – Bennett possesses a masterful narrative skill, taking us on a journey full of heartbreak, joy and a whole lot of dick jokes. He brings depth to the dumb stuff and levity to the heavy stuff, and is totally unafraid of revealing the most brutally personal details of his life story. ★★★★“ - SBS Television (Melbourne)
"While it’s true that everyone has a story, not everyone knows how to tell it. Bennett is a tremendously gifted storyteller, striking a note-perfect mix between observational humour and revealing insights. ★★★★" - Winnipeg Free Press
“There are few Fringe artists with better timing than Bennett, fewer still who can connect so quickly with an audience and tell stories so brilliantly.” - London Free Press
"He’s the real deal – switching from barroom humor to heartstring-tugging emotion on the turn of a dime." - Orlando Sentinel “
Über-Funny and vulnerable — hold on to your panties, Ladies.“ – Montreal Rampage
"How I learned to Hug is endearing, shocking and heart-warming." - Theatre View
“An expert story teller” - Capital Critics Circle (Montreal) “Bennett sure knows how to weave a yarn.” – Herald Sun (Melbourne)
American't is Jon Bennett's latest comedic storytelling show, where he recounts the absurd and chaotic journey of trying to make the U.S. his home. After spending over a decade traveling the world with his shows, Bennett was forced back to his roots in rural Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Living once again with his conservative, religious family for over a year and a half, he faced a dramatic shift from his nomadic lifestyle.
Once pandemic restrictions eased, Bennett finally secured a way to leave Australia and move to the U.S., only to be arrested upon his arrival at the airport. In classic Bennett style, this show transforms his personal misadventures into a hilarious yet reflective narrative about resilience, identity, and the strange experiences that come with navigating life as an international performer.
As always, Bennett blends humour, personal anecdotes, and poignant observations, taking audiences through his rollercoaster journey—from his time back home to the chaos of moving across the world. It promises to be another of his raw, relatable, and side-splitting performances.
The show has garnered high praise and multiple awards, including the Patron’s Pick Award at Orlando Fringe (2024) and Best of Fringe at both Tampa Fringe (2023) and Kansas City Fringe (2023). Critics describe it as “a non-stop ride” and “Bennett’s best work,” with his signature blend of humour and emotion resonating deeply with audiences.
PATRON'S PICK AWARD WINNER (Orlando Fringe, 2024)
“Masterful, hilarious and heart breaking. AMERICAN’T is a Triumph.” - Broadway World
SELL OUT SHOW AWARD WINNER (Orlando Fringe, 2024)
BEST OF FRINGE WINNER (Tampa Fringe, 2023)
"Bennett’s best work... his most personal show to date. Engaging as ever." - Orlando Sentinel
BEST OF FRINGE WINNER (Kansas City Fringe, 2023)
VIP AWARD WINNER (Kansas City Fringe, 2023)
“A breathtaking, non-stop ride, entertaining and deeply personal.” - KC Reviews
Fringe favourite Jon Bennett was once a great junior footballer in Southern Australia.
He was set to "Make It" until he started playing with men… real men. Jon's football career came crashing down when a community tragedy made him re-evaluate his life.
Now a multi award-winning touring performer of festival phenomenon such as 'Pretending Things Are a Cock', Fire in the Meth Lab, How I Learned to Hug and my Dad's Deaths, it seems Bennett couldn't be further away from the football field. But Jon "Pretend Cocks Guy" Bennett can never run too far from tackling the big men.
A show about community, friendships, life, death, and a bit of football.
**Just for Laughs Best Comedy Award nomination. (Montreal Fringe, 2016)
Outstanding Storytelling Award (Victoria Fringe Festival, 2020)
“A tour de force who will make you laugh–to tears. ★★★★★” - Otakuno Culture
“Bennett expertly engages us with his wit and self-deprecating charm. ★★★★½” - Stage Whispers
"Charming and funny." - Orlando Sentinel
“Magnetic with lots of lots of lots of heart. Perfection.” - Montreal Rampage
"The gifted story teller engaged the crowd so skilfully, within moments of the show starting you had the impression that you had known Jon since childhood. I couldn’t shake the disarming feeling of intimacy for the entire duration of the show." - CJLO Montreal