In 2023, Gillian Cosgriff won the top prize of at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for Most Outstanding Show. Actually, Good was wholesome, sweet, and looked at the little things in life that bring us joy. Cosgriff’s 2025 show is the opposite of its predecessor. Fresh New Worries in comparison is unashamed to be a bit pessimistic, reflective, and highlight the things that we’re worried about.
Upon arrival, we’re encouraged to fill in a little piece of paper to share something that we’re worried about right now, and then drop our worry note into a box before we enter Art Centre Melbourne’s The Show Room. So naturally, I wrote down two worries before popping them into the box and swiftly took my seat.
The stage consisted of a loop pedal on the floor, a microphone stand, a black grand piano and a pedestal where the box, filled with of our worries, sat. When the room darkened and lit up again, Gillian Cosgriff emerged from a door at the back of the staging area and went straight to work with her wired microphone and trusty loop pedal. Through her vocals alone and that loop pedal, Cosgriff created harmonised yet hypnotic sounds (Ed Sheeran, eat your heart out).
It’s hard to deny Gillian Cosgriff’s talents. She’s an excellent composer, musician, writer, and if that wasn’t enough to sell you, her sublime vocals and natural talent for storytelling will bring it home.
Gillian Cosgriff shares on all sorts of topics including the world we’re living in right now – the cost of living, climate crisis, what we have in common, a trip to the hair salon, singing fish, the lore of Pandora’s Box, and stories about her beloved nephew. Known for her cabaret comedy style, Fresh New Worries is somehow more talking and less singing. I found myself forgetting that Cosgriff was a musical comedian because I was so focused on her telling her stories.
Fresh New Worries is by no means a depressing nor bad show. If anything, it was quite comforting to realise that many who shared the room and submitted their concerns into the box too, had the same worries as you do. It was like finding a community of common ground through our stress and fears. A wonderful feeling to know that you’re not alone, all while being serenaded to by the talents of Gillian Cosgriff.
Fresh New Worries is an intelligent art piece from Gillian Cosgriff that feels like an open love letter to her nephew, who she worries about every day. It’s a clever concept and a smart show about finding common ground and laughing in the face of adversity. But one can only do so for so long.
As someone who has social anxiety and worries about things constantly, I thought that Fresh New Worries would be right up my alley, and it is. Yet, at the same time, I’ve realised I go see comedy to escape from the world, not be reminded of what I’m escaping from. But at least, I now want to buy myself a singing fish.
Gillian Cosgriff‘s Fresh New Worries is currently on at Arts Centre Melbourne’s The Show Room as part of the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival until April 20.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/fresh-new-worries
https://www.instagram.com/gilliancosgriff
Photography supplied.