BY ISABELLA TILEY

Bringing her sarcastic and cynical self to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, this 22-year-old comedian, is all set to leave you in splits.

In her show, Paquito, Charisa Bossinakis finds humour in serious issues, delivering messages that stick.

The 50-minute performance is primarily centred on her near-abduction experience while visiting Cuba.

An abduction story may be grim, Ms Bossinakis said, but it depended on how the story was told.

“I would never want to filter what I say because I think being truthful is where the funniest comedy comes from,” Ms Bossinakis said.

“I appeal to people of a younger generation, but… people our age tend to be offended on behalf of other people,” she said.

The young comedian has always tackled social and political issues through her stand up material.

“Comedy is a great way to get people to listen to serious topics,” Ms Bossinakis said.

“These issues are prevalent in my life and those of so many others and I want to do it with a sense of humour, because that's the only way I know how,” she said.

Last year, Ms Bossinakis’ performance at the Melbourne Fringe Festival touched on the subject of abortion.

Even though her content, she said, was cleared with her friends who had undergone abortions themselves, she received a lot of criticism for it.

“An audience member called me on the phone after the show telling me to get rid of the set,” Ms Bossinakis said.

“The irony was that my friends who had been through abortions found it funny, but this guy had something to say about it,” she said.

The young comedian said she believes women in comedy have it harder than men.

“I have been told by critics that women can’t be as funny as men, and should just stick to their lane out of the comedy industry,” Ms Bossinakis said.

Paquito opens tonight at Tasma Terrace and runs until April 21.