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Barnie Duncan: Oooky Pooky

 
Ross Anthony Review by Ross Anthony 3 Published: 25 Aug 2025 Assembly Roxy Show Dates: 31 Jul 2025-24 Aug 2025

“Well, what the hell are you going to write about that?” asked a friend who went into Barnie Duncan: Oooky Pooky with me. I could only reply: “I really have no idea.”

If you like teabagging (literally) and bukkake (less literally), then this is perfect for you

Being weird at the Fringe doesn’t necessarily make a bad show – in fact, sometimes it makes a terrific one. At times Oooky Pooky is terrific, but it leans heavily towards the bizarre and creeps close to the line more often than not. Duncan’s background is in physical comedy, but here he allegedly plays himself in a caricature-ish performance that borrows much from clowning. As he says: “Clowns are meant to get away with shit.”

I really don’t know what to think of this act, which may itself betray a kind of brilliance in the mania. On the one hand he is genuinely engaging from the start; on the other, about halfway through it begins to feel a little like watching a car crash. It’s like waiting to hear when that one teacher is going to face career-ending allegations – and nobody will be surprised. It’s a bit oooky pooky, a bit grubby, and may leave you uneasy. Especially as he wonders aloud about kissing audience members.

Still, there are moments of sincerely excellent clowning. If you are comfortable with uncomfortable comedy – as though Ricky Gervais and Noel Fielding had been combined – this is the show for you. If you like teabagging (literally) and bukkake (less literally), then this is perfect for you.

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The Blurb:

Barnie (half of Different Party, 100% of Juan Vesuvius), a funny boy from New Zealand, recently found a tape of his mum talking to an astrologist in 1980 during which his entire life was predicted. It has been strange to see how much of it has come true. And a little bit oooky pooky. Join Barnie for a subversive hour of his own peculiar blend of funny – part stand-up, part physical comedy, part surreal storyteller. There is never a show quite like a Barnie show.