GILLIAN COSGRIFF
Gillian is a singer, writer, actor, musician, and comedian who graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2010 with a Bachelor of Music Theatre. Her 2023 solo show, Actually, Good, garnered rave reviews at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and won the award for Most Outstanding Show and the Golden Gibbo (for Best Independent Show).
She has toured extensively with her solo shows as a comedian and cabaret performer, most notably at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Leicester Square Theatre in London. She co-wrote the opera Lorelei for Victorian Opera with Casey Bennetto and Julian Langdon in 2018, which premiered at the Malthouse Theatre.
In 2020 she directed Michelle Brasier’s show Average Bear, which was nominated for Best Show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and has since gone on to play the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Soho Theatre in London, as well as a filmed special released on Paramount Plus.
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CREDITS
TV
Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe
Comedy Up Late
Get Krack!n'
Ricketts Lane
Fat Tony & Co
House Husbands
Offspring
ABC
ABC
ABC
ABC
Channel Nine
Channel Nine
Network Ten
Actor
Actor
Actor
Actor
Actor
Actor
Actor
2023
2018
2017
2014
2014
2013
2012
Theatre
Godspell
Come Rain or Come Shine
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Neon Tiger
Lorelai
Vivid White
Company
Loving Repeating
Pirates of Penzance
Hayes Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company
Michael Cassel Group
La Boite Theatre Company
Victorian Opera
Melbourne Theatre Company
Watch This
Vic Theatre Company
The Production Company
Actor
Actor
Actor
Composer / Lyricist
Lyricist / Librettist
Actor
Actor
Actor
Actor
2022
2022
2019-2022
2018
2018
2017
2015-2016
2015
2013
Live
Actually, Good
Michelle Brasier: Average Bear
So Far So Good
8 Songs in 8 Weeks Volume 4
To the Moon & Back
Whelmed
This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
Waitressing... and Other Things I Do Well
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Edinburgh Fringe / MICF
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Performer
Director
Performer
Performer
Performer
Performer
Performer
Performer
2023
2020- 2022
2018
2017
2016-2017
2014-2015
2013-2016
2011-2012
MEDIA
PRESS/AWARDS
Awards:
WINNER: MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL - MOST OUTSTANDING SHOW - 2023
WINNER: MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL - THE GOLDEN GIBBO (BEST INDEPENDENT SHOW) - 2023
WINNER: GREEN ROOM AWARD - NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK (OPERA) - 2019
WINNER: GREEN ROOM AWARD - WRITING (CABARET) - 2018
WINNER: GREEN ROOM AWARD - ARTISTE (CABARET) -2018
WINNER: GREEN ROOM AWARD - ORIGINAL SONGS (CABARET) - 2013
WINNER: MELBOURNE FRINGE - BEST CABARET - 2013
Reviews for Actually, Good!:
BRITISH COMEDY GUIDE RECOMMENDED 2023
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "What a triumph!"
CHORTLE
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Actually, Good is actually rather wonderful."
THE SCOTSMAN
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
MERVYN SUTTER'S PICK OF THE FRINGE
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "A near-perfect hour of observational comedy music and poignant stand-up"
THE WEE REVIEW
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Her way with music and lyrics is pure genius. There’s not a single gag that doesn’t land, nor a hair out of place."
THE HERALD SUN
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Her stand-up is as sharp and acerbic as her brilliant lyrics. This is what happens when serious talent meets serious funny."
THE DAILY REVIEW
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "A thought provoking, imaginative, heart-warming life lesson that will surprise you and stay with you long after you've left the theatre."
LILITHIA
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 "Incredibly affirming and funny Cosgriff's a whip-smart, quick witted, confident performer."
THE AGE
★ ★ ★ ★ "Cosgriff's show is exceptional"
FEST MAG
★ ★ ★ ★ "An endearingly fun musical comedy... ruthlessly cheery interactive hour"
TIME OUT
★ ★ ★ ★ "Actually, Good is a noble attempt at turning a simple idea into a joyous, life-affirming show"
BROADWAY BABY
★ ★ ★ ★ "It'd simply be impossible to leave Cosgriff's show without a smile on your face"
THE SKINNY
★ ★ ★ ★ "Gillian is upbeat, charming and unapologetically millennial"
ED FEST MAG