Show: "One for the Record Books"

Performer: Julian O’Shea

Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne - Flinders Street

Rating: ★★★★★

“Exceptional,” a member of the crowd said.

“I’m in a record-breaking mood now," another viewer said.

Monash University researcher, educator and social entrepreneur Julian O’Shea is back at the Melbourne Comedy Festival for the second year in a row, hosting two shows this time round.

After debuting his show "M is for Melbourne: The World’s Mostly Liveable City" in 2024, he has returned with "One for the Record Books". 

From the onset, O’Shea eased us into the chaos with charm, comparing himself to “a box truck driver going under a bridge”, reassuring us that we would be fine. 

The show was framed around his burning passion for Guinness World Records – ironically owned by the Guinness beer company, as he pointed out. 

O’Shea reflected on pre-internet childhood, where fact-checking meant trusting whatever your mum told you. The whole world could get away with gaslighting you.

From his highly ambitious record-breaking attempts to his certificates of success, O’Shea shared his journeys of both failure and success. 

These included trying to get the record for the most train rides in 24 hours, enduring the “world’s longest day” (a gruelling 49 hours) and skating at the highest altitude.

What made the show exceptional was his effortless charisma. With a spark in his eye, a cheeky smirk and a passion burning through his words, O’Shea painted vivid pictures with each tale. 

Connecting the dots from one unbelievable adventure to the next, he created a steady flow between wild stories that connected the audience.

At one point, he got a volunteer from the crowd to help break a new record. Together they stood across from a mug and attempted to throw as many tea bags as they could into it in 30 seconds.

After a whirlwind of outrageously funny stories, one thing was clear: there was no length O’Shea wasn’t willing to go to, geographically or comically.

If you’re heading to the festival, this is a show worth seeing – and given O’Shea’s appetite for adventure, it won’t be the last time you’ll see him pushing boundaries on stage. 

Keep an eye out for his future projects (and perhaps a few more world records) by following him on Instagram: @julianoshea