By Nick Pilgrim
Thanks to the internet’s worldwide reach, Julian O’Shea has amassed an impressive global following and counting on platforms such as YouTube (125K subscribers) and TikTok (85K followers and 2 million likes).
The self-confessed trivia buff quickly became one of the sleeper hits from the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his sixty-minute debut act. M is for Melbourne: The World’s Mostly* Liveable Citydetailed O’Shea’s passion and puzzlement for the city’s vast infrastructure. Fellow list lovers collectively rejoiced in his alphabetical tribute to their hometown.
Hot on the heels of that five-star experience, he ups the ante this season with a second show called One For The Record Books.
Essentially the performer’s life-long obsession with The Guiness Book of World Records, O’Shea covers the publication’s curious yet gripping origin, why it is revered in households around the planet, and how the volume has evolved over the last seventy years.
However, ladies and gentlemen. It wouldn’t be the ‘Full O’Shea’ without the hilarious level of passion, drive and commitment for which the presenter is known.
Determined to break some records of his own, the performer circumnavigates Earth where he:
- Travels the most distance across China by fast train in one day.
- Somehow sees the longest day in 49 hours.
- Attempts to break a skateboarding record at the world’s highest altitude.
- Works in tandem with three friends to smash the ten-kilometer speed record on a quadricycle.
- Asks an audience member picked at random, to help land as many tea bags into a mug within thirty seconds.
Whether O’Shea is officially recognized for any of these feats and challenges (or if not as he puts it, cross into the ‘stupid zone’), you’ll need to attend his show for yourself!
Amongst the show’s collection of quirky tidbits, would you believe even one past Australian Prime Minister holds a dubious record of his own!
Thrown brilliantly into the mix, is another highlight how O’Shea managed to bluff his university faculty into believing he was a distinguished former head of staff. That extended segment alone is worth the price of admission.
Clearly, the man has done his homework. With his rare gift for making fast facts fun, audiences will be duly rewarded with this hour-long love affair to the world’s most popular book.
Revered by fans eight to eighty, One For The Record Books is a family – friendly outing which will keep viewers both charmed and delighted.
Following the set, I overheard two younger guests recap their thoughts. One said, “He’s sweet,” while the other added, “Julian certainly loves stuff.”
This reviewer couldn’t agree more.
One For The Record Books (and a repeat season of M is for Melbourne) play until Sunday April 20 for the full duration of the festival.
