The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.
Matt Kelly forms one half of alternative comedy duo, The Listies (with Richard (Rich) Higgins). From 2011, they switched their comedy to focus on a child audience, and have written a number of successful live shows, comedy albums, and books.
Hamlet : Prince of SkidmarkThe Tragedy of Hamlet : Prince of Skidmark : A Badaptation of the Bard2016single work drama children's
'An hour-long comedy bomb of Shakespeare plus ninjas. And zombies.
'The Listies are the maestros of children’s theatre. Their tremendous storytelling, comedic genius and infectious imaginations make kids all over the world fall in love with theatre while howling with laughter.
'Now, they have created a new, very cheeky, interactive version of Hamlet for children. This comic adventure shatters the fourth wall and glues it back together with turbo-charged story-telling and silliness.
'Hamlet is full of thrilling things that kids love in a good story: ghosts, castles, sword fights, fake blood and spooky stuff. Enter super-sonic gags, expertly timed stage trickery and special effects unlike anything kids have seen before and you have a very cleverly disguised Shakespearean tragedy for everyone aged five and over.
'And that’s not all… expect bonus pillow fights, pirates, ninjas, ninja pirates, aliens, ninja pirate aliens, zombies and a bunch of other hilarious stuff as The Listies take kids and their adults on a fun-filled hour of mayhem that mischievously celebrates the excitement and unpredictable nature of live theatre.
'The only thing we can be sure of is that everyone dies at the end – including the audience! ' (Production summary)
yIckypediaThe Listies Ickypedia; Ickypedia : A Dictionary of Disgusting New WordsMelbourne:Penguin,201575817642015single work children's fiction children's
'From Alphaburp to Zinklegriting the Ickypedia has some of the most ridiculous, stupid and grosstastic words you've never heard.'