Anyone that has started a corporate job dreads the onboarding process. It can be long winded, full of and corporate self-boasting and useless information. The language used during this process is filled with corporate buzz words and usually accompanied by a presentation covering the ‘pillars of success’. Well, take this concept and give it a hellish spin and you’ve got Andy Balloch’s new Comedy Festival show, ‘Welcome to Hell’.
Hosted at The Improv Conspiracy Theatre, we are greeted by Andy Balloch as Satan’s employee of the month, Ramone. Dressed in pinstripe suit pants with a matching vest, glittery devil horns and an oversized glittery tie, we’re invited by the well-dressed MC to take a seat and collect our ‘Staff’ lanyards. For the next 55 minutes, as the new staff of Hell, we’re onboarded to the company with a slide deck, giving us all the key points to success.
This fresh concept from Andy Balloch is a clever look into the perceived evil that roams amongst society today. From ‘famous clients’ like Hitler, Epstein, and those on the far-right political spectrum, and even ‘evil’ in recent news relating to the War in Iran and fuel crises. There are even satirical digs at pop culture icons, clients that actually make a hell of a lot of sense (pun intended).
We’re also given examples of initiatives that the departments of Hell have created; like airports, Australian Breakfast Radio and even the ‘cancellation’ of Cancel Culture with a clear example of how a recent theatre personality was credibly accused of assaulting a co-star yet went on to appear in multiple TV specials and shows.
Ramone explained that our role, as new employees, was to take these and other initiatives back up to the surface to, quote, “Make Things Worse, Step by Step”. And of course, it wouldn’t be a true corporate onboarding without a team building exercise. So, we were requested to chant and clap to “Step by Step“ each time the slide appeared.
The truth is that society, leading authorities and governments around the world, appear to naturally make things worse all on their own, and here lies the whole point of Balloch’s new show. It is a clear and terrifying view at the state of the world right now and that if we continue to let these ‘evil’ initiatives continue, we’re almost certainly doomed.
Andy Balloch is a master of his craft and never disappoints. Never. Nothing is off limits in this deliciously smart new show that will leave you laughing, even though you probably shouldn’t. This fast-paced, hellish rollercoaster ride through a corporate version of Hell is devilishly fun and thought provokingly hilarious. Best of all, you get to keep your newly acquire ‘Staff’ lanyard that is the perfect addition to any outfit on a night out.
Andy Balloch’s Welcome to Hell is currently playing as part of the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival at The Improv Conspiracy Theatre until April 19.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/andy-balloch-welcome-to-hell
https://improvconspiracy.com/shows/welcome-to-hell
https://www.instagram.com/theandyballoch
Photography supplied.