If you’ve ever sat through a performance review, endured an all-hands meeting that could’ve been an email, or listened to someone say “let’s circle back on that” with a straight face, H.R. The Musical will feel like the comedy intervention you didn’t know you needed.

From the opening number the show bounces between sharp satire and surprising moments of truth, turning the chaos of the modern workplace into catchy tunes It takes corporate culture to task with clever humour, everything from diversity checklists and “transparent communication” to AI fears is delivered with sharp wit and a surprising amount of heart.

Each sketch hits the mark, thanks to a cast that’s both super sharp and totally free-spirited. Their voices shift between styles with ease, one minute they’re doing sultry blues, the next they’re rapping about KPI compliance. The choreography is full of energy, and a few times, the performers make the audience part of their ensemble, erasing the divide between spectator and suffering coworker.

What makes H.R. The Musical so powerful isn’t just its humour, but its accuracy. Anyone who has lived through “restructuring season,” faced an unrepentant mansplainer, or been told their job is safe “for now” will find uncomfortable familiarity beneath the laughter. The show doesn’t just mock the corporate machine; it exposes the humanity underneath it. Highlighting the absurd ways we try to stay sane while maintaining professional polish.

Even its take on the current human-versus-AI debate feels fresh. Funny, yes, but tinged with a genuine curiosity about where creativity and empathy fit into workplaces increasingly defined by algorithms.

In a festival packed with comedic brilliance, H.R. The Musical really stands out. It’s hilarious but also surprisingly sharp, a reminder that satire works best when it hits close to home. Smart, well-paced, and refreshingly honest, it’s as thoughtful as it is funny.

If you’ve worked in an office with HR, People and Culture or People Experience (whatever they’re calling it these days), you’ll laugh out of recognition. If you haven’t, you’ll laugh with relief.

H.R. The Musical is running until 8 March 2026, get your tickets here.

4.5 stars.

By Jess Pyke