In his debut hour, New Zealand comic Sean Collier strode onto the stage in the Austral’s intimate Attic with the kind of nervy confidence that makes you instantly lean in. Shitegeist is a sharp, self‑aware, and irreverent exploration of the world we live in. Collier tackled topics such as conspiracy theories, Israel and the Epstein files, but also provided insight into his own personal struggles.

Part of Collier’s charm was how he knew exactly what he wanted to say even as he pretended to be making it up on the spot. He managed to walk the line between pushing the boundaries of humour and filling the gaps with silly humour to lighten the mood when the comedy got too dark.

A particularly memorable moment from his set included mentioning that if he had a child he’d probably do something horrible do it, like name it Josh. When Collier asked if there were any Josh’s in the audience, this reviewer reluctantly raised his hand but debunked his theory that no Josh’s are the eldest child. What makes a good comedian is how they recover when a gag doesn’t land, and Collier owned any of the quieter moments with self-deprecating grace.

When he spoke about the hey-day of social media and the platforms that used to exist (Tumblr, Ask.fm and Omegle among them) it provoked audience interaction from a reticent audience.

Collier’s crowd work is mischievous, never cruel, and he had a knack for turning audience contributions into some of the night’s biggest laughs. When he spoke about the difficulties of being a lawyer and having to cope with friends asking for free legal advice, a fellow audience member also admitted to being a lawyer in the life insurance field. An area that Collier had previously ripped on at the start of his set. There’s a scrappiness to his stage presence that feels refreshing. He’s not trying to be slick, he’s trying to be honest, and the humour lands harder because of it.

There were moments of silliness, moments of sharp social commentary, and a few moments where the room collectively realises, “Oh, he’s actually saying something here.”

As a debut, Collier’s Shitegeist showed he’s not just another comic with a microphone. He’s a storyteller with a point of view and a performer with charisma. He’s one to watch and I don’t think it’s the last we’ve seen of this talent. It’s smart, funny, and delightfully off‑kilter stand-up at this year’s Adelaide Fringe.

While Shitegeist’s short Adelaide Fringe stint has ended, you can check out more details about his show including YouTube clips here.

****

Four stars