Review by Markus Hamence – Jimmy Rees: In Reel Life – Performance date: Friday 21 November 2025. Thebarton Theatre, Torrensville, South Australia
One of Australia’s favourite entertainers, Jimmy Rees, is pumped and ready to kick off his 9-date In Reel Life tour this month!
Performing nationally in Australia and for the very first time in New Zealand, Jimmy will bring his quick wit, chaotic, humorous live show (shut up Jason!) visiting (and ripping into) Hobart, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, Auckland and Sydney – coming to each city for one night only.
Jimmy Rees OAM first captured hearts as Jimmy Giggle on ABC Kids’ Giggle & Hoot, where he entertained a generation of families over a decade-long run. After saying goodbye to his pyjamas and puppet pal Hoot, Jimmy reinvented himself as a viral comedy star…. Let’s delve into the performance in Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre…
“What makes this show really sing is the way he folds his online persona into a full-bodied, theatrical, real-time experience.” – Markus Hamence
Jimmy Rees brings In Reel Life to Adelaide with the confidence of a performer who knows exactly how to fill a room, and from the moment he hits the stage at Thebby, the whole night was charged. But, before he ‘hit’ the stage, Jimmy, shimmied through the audience entering from the back of auditorium doors as ‘Trump’ while greeting us punters and shaking hands. It worked well and set an engaging tone immediately, and was bloody funny. He carries this easy, magnetic presence – sharp, cheeky, completely in control – yet somehow still feels like the mate you’d sit with in the backyard dissecting life’s ridiculous moments. What makes this show really sing is the way he folds his online persona into a full-bodied, theatrical, real-time experience. Those quick-sketch characters, the split-screen chaos, the viral ‘shut up Jason’ meltdowns – they don’t just appear as recycled bits – He expands them, deepens them and tosses them into an unpredictable live flow where they land with bigger impact and louder laughs than you expect.
The Adelaide crowd laps it up because Rees doesn’t deliver comedy from a distance. He’s in the room with intention, constantly clocking reactions, leaning into the things that hit hardest and letting his stories unfurl with the confidence of someone who genuinely enjoys the messiness of live performance. He plays with rhythm in a way that keeps the night airy and quick, shifting from fast-fire jokes to longer, story-driven stretches that build to these glorious, noisy payoffs. Every now and then he’ll break into a tangent – reacting to someone’s laugh, someone’s outfit, someone’s big hair (haha) someone’s perfectly timed comment – and instead of throwing him off, it becomes another layer to the show. That spontaneity gives the night its spark; it feels like it’s being made for Adelaide in real time.
“He never lingers long on the sentimental side, but he uses it just enough to give the comedy weight…” – Markus Hamence
There’s something fascinating about how he navigates the world he’s built, too. As much as the show is packed with silliness, he also opens the door to the life behind the screens – the strange reality of going from ‘Jimmy Giggle’ to a national comedy powerhouse, the juggling act of being a dad in the digital era, the weirdness of becoming recognisable in supermarket aisles because of characters that only exist in a phone camera. He never lingers long on the sentimental side, but he uses it just enough to give the comedy weight. He’s saying, “Yes, life is madness – but it’s our madness,” and the audience relaxes into that shared understanding. That’s where the connection comes from. That’s why the laughter feels communal rather than just reactive.
Rees also shows a keen eye for detail – those tiny behavioural quirks we all have but never acknowledge. Whether he’s ripping into the absurdity of online bureaucracy, the spiralling drama of suburban errands, or the unhinged speed at which modern culture expects us to respond, he does it with this razor clarity that makes the whole theatre nod and crack up simultaneously. Adelaide audiences love comedy that reflects their own rhythms, and he taps into that beautifully, weaving in casual local references and acknowledging the city’s distinct personality without pandering.
“Adelaide connects with him instantly, and he rewards that connection with a show that feels alive, generous and utterly energising.” – Markus Hamence
Credit to Rees also on his perfectly sourced local recent happenings including our ‘crane climber’ from only last weekend. This man does his research and we respond accordingly with laughter and appreciation and we feel like he knows us. His opening parody song lovingly rips into our town and showcases all the things we love and hate about our beloved state. Bravo Jimmy, bravo.
By the final stretch, the energy in the room has grown into this rolling, fizzy wave where everyone is right there with him. He closes strong – big laughs, tight timing, that perfect blend of slick professionalism and relaxed, natural charm. Walking out, there’s that unmistakable post-show glow: a sense of having shared something buoyant, smart, and genuinely uplifting. ‘In Reel Life’ proves why Jimmy Rees has become one of Australia’s most beloved modern performers. He’s quick, he’s real, he’s contemporary, and he knows exactly how to spin everyday life into something wildly entertaining. Adelaide connects with him instantly, and he rewards that connection with a show that feels alive, generous and utterly energising.
Come back again soon please sir.
Tickets & More Jimmy Rees Here
Check Out Our Professional Snaps Of The Show Here!
