After seeing his shows over the past two years at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, I was excited for Sam See’s return. Originally from Singapore and now residing in London, Sam See’s latest work explores the world of politics with ‘Government Approved Vote’.
Stepping away from a traditional stand-up performance, Sam dives deep into politics. From covering the differences in the types of politics from Nationalism to Communism, to the deep-rooted history of Left and Right political alignment and some scary statistics of voting numbers in elections throughout history, everything is delivered with an overarching topic of empathy and just how it sits within our world, as well as in Sam’s personal life.
One of the things I’ve always adored about Sam’s brand of comedy, is that he is not afraid to experiment, be outside of his comfort zone and try something new. Government Approved Vote switches between the political and personal that will leave you thinking if you are doing enough. In a show that discusses empathy, I sat there feeling empathetic towards Sam as he opened about his struggles for being bullied and being gay at an all-boys high school.
Sam also explores the history of campaigning and how debates have changed over the years, demonstrated with some fun audience participation with a debate about your favourite ice cream flavour.
This show does have plenty of heart, however, it does take a bit of time to find it. There is a lot of explanations that occur during the show that feel a little drawn out. This also includes the introductory preamble before the show which I felt was unnecessary. The show has the ability to stand up on its own without any explanation or introduction at all. Just tighten up some of the factual parts of the show and it has all the potential to be something truly unique and special.
Whilst there are still notes of comedy and fun throughout Government Approved Vote, this show is a bold attempt to strike up a conversation about the state of our political climate and how we, the voters, have all the power to make change. When you think about the state of the world right now, this is an an important topic that more of us should be having active conversations about. I applaud Sam for taking a chance on such an out of the box idea for a comedy show.
If you are curious to learn some weird, wonderful and scary facts about politics, this is the show for you. Sam See’s Government Approved Vote is bold, brave and unconventional. It left me feeling the importance of empathy, with the reminder of having the power to make change. Despite voting being compulsory in Australia, with a national election just around the corner, the timing of this factual journey through politics couldn’t have been better timed if Sam tried.
Sam See’s Government Approved Vote is currently playing at the Chinese Museum at the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival until April 20.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/government-approved-vote
https://www.instagram.com/mrsamsee
Photography supplied.