playing with men

Playing With Men is another deeply personal and thought-provoking show from Jon Bennett, reflecting on his early years as a talented junior footballer in Southern Australia. His football career, once filled with promise, faced an abrupt halt when real-life challenges and a community tragedy forced him to reconsider his path. Now, as a celebrated comedic storyteller, Bennett uses this show to explore themes of masculinity, community, friendships, life, and death, all through the lens of football.

Despite Bennett’s shift from the football field to the world stage as a multi-award-winning performer, Playing With Men touches on how certain experiences, especially those shaped by traditional masculinity, remain ever-present. It’s a mix of humor and heartbreak, with Bennett tackling heavy themes while never straying too far from his comedic roots.

The show has received critical acclaim, including a Just for Laughs Best Comedy Award nomination (Montreal Fringe, 2016), a Best Storytelling Award (Sydney Fringe, 2023), and an Outstanding Storytelling Award (Victoria Fringe, 2019). It has been described as both "side-splittingly funny" and "crushingly tragic," with Bennett's honesty, wit, and self-reflective charm captivating audiences.