Way back in the early years of high school, I completed a project on Ancient Egypt and was instantly fascinated with the lore and history of the Pharaohs.
In the same year, a television show aired its pilot. That show was Stargate SG-1 and whilst I only saw a few episodes at the time, I was obsessed. Later in life, I started to collect the DVD box sets and the obsession grew from the show to anything related to Egyptology. And, in 1999, a Hollywood blockbuster hit the cinemas that would see my fascination grow tenfold. Starring Brendan Fraser, The Mummy took the world by storm.
AJ Lamarque was also inspired by these late 90s releases and took his fascination with Egypt to the next level, where he dived into a year abroad studying the ancient culture. Now in 2026, what is AJ to do with all this knowledge? Well, host a one-hour comedy edutainment show, of course!
Titled ‘A Beginners Guide to Ancient Egypt’, AJ took to the stage at QT Melbourne’s Paramount Room for a show unlike anything I’ve experienced before. Armed with a television screen and his trusty long pointer, AJ Lamarque takes us on a journey back into Ancient Egypt, sharing his love for what I can only guess is his favourite film of all time, The Mummy. AJ talks of the lore in the film through quizzes that the audience participate in to guess if it is actual Egyptology or Hollywood fluff, with some hilarious and interesting results.
We hear about the history of the ‘Book of the Dead’ and what purpose it served for those heading into the afterlife. AJ even talks about the pyramids and how they grew from simple burial structures to the grand pyramids we know of today. If that didn’t sell you on this show, AJ also teaches you how to read hieroglyphs and our knowledge is tested on how the ancient language is translated. Don’t fret if you have zero knowledge about Ancient Egypt! It’s a beginner’s guide, after all.
To say ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Ancient Egypt’ is one of the most interesting and captivating shows of this year’s festival would be a gross understatement. At its heart, this show displays the clear passion that AJ has for Ancient Egypt. He talks with such joy and enthusiasm that it held the full attention of the audience for the full hour. I can only imagine how different my days in school would have been, if I had someone enthusiastic and passionate like AJ running the class.
Whilst this clever show is clearly an educational piece, there is still some fun and hilarity mixed in. The comedy comes from mixing current political events into the lore of Egyptology and it by no way feels like it has been forced in to make it funny. It flows and it works!
In his Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut, AJ Lamarque wows his attentive audience with his charm, beaming smile and his smarts. AJ is a talented and natural storyteller that mixes education and fun with ease. Proving that comedy isn’t just about stand-up. Comedy can be found anywhere when told the right way.
AJ Lamarque’s ‘A Beginners Guide to Ancient Egypt’ is a show not only for the nerds, but for the curious and willing to learn something new. This show is by far the biggest surprise of this year’s comedy festival. I went in with an open mind and left learning things I never thought I would. It was fun, educational, interesting, intelligent and utterly captivating. AJ is so comfortable on stage, he could make anything niche seem accessible, worldly and fascinating.
I really hope AJ returns to Melbourne soon with another show in this format because I would see it without hesitation. For now, I feel I’m obliged to re-watch The Mummy again in his honour.
AJ Lamarque’s ‘A Beginners Guide to Ancient Egypt’ played at Storyville Melbourne and QT Melbourne‘s Paramount Room as part of the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival until April 19th. Although the Melbourne season is over, the show is still set to visit Brisbane Comedy Festival from the 30th of April to the 3rd of May at the Graffiti Room, before concluding in Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on the 14th and 15th of May as part of the Sydney Comedy Festival.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.ajlamarque.com/shows
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/aj-lamarque-a-beginner-s-guide-to-ancient-egypt
https://www.brisbanecomedyfestival.com/events/aj-lamarque
https://www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/event/aj-lamarque-a-beginners-guide-to-ancient-egypt
https://www.instagram.com/ajlamarque
Photography supplied.