Indigenous Comedian, Keynote Speaker, MC, Actor (bump, class of ’07, total control) and Published Author.

Steph Tisdell thought she’d be a lawyer before she became one of the brightest stars in Australian comedy, selling out award-winning live shows and having several viral sensations. 

With an ever-growing list of acting (Bump, Total Control, Class of 07, The Deb) and writing (Fisk, Bump, Rosehaven) accolades Steph Tisdell’s star is on the rise. While she is best known  – and loved – for cracking us up, an early interest in politics saw Steph enrol to study law. This sense of social justice matched with her formidable intelligence enables Steph to deliver insights that challenge cultural stereotypes in a way that is hilarious, relatable and – importantly as a proud Indigenous woman – powerful. 

Steph added “published author” to her resume in 2024 when her debut young adult novel “The Skin I’m In” was published through Pan Macmillan Australia. 

On stage, critics have showered her with a galaxy-worth of four and five star reviews and hail her as being  “warmly funny, immediately relatable, fast on her feet” (Time Out) and “riotous, audacious and incredibly  smart” (Arts Hub). “Like Hannah Gadsby, she clearly recognises that true vulnerability is a powerful place to  excavate comedy material and her authenticity on stage is remarkable,” said The Adelaide Review of her 2020  show Baby Beryl. 

Her debut solo show, Identity Steft, won the weekly award for best emerging talent at the 2018 Adelaide Fringe  and was nominated for the illustrious Best Newcomer Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.  Her second show, The Pyramid, took out the 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival John Pinder  Award. 

Steph’s material covers plenty of other ground, as well. She talks with endearing candour about her issues with  mental health and body image, revels in oddball observations (have you ever considered what animals would  look like with eyebrows?) and peppers her sets with some ribald remarks. Whatever the topic, with a wit as  sparkly as the mischievous glint in her eyes, Steph Tisdell is indeed “a joy to watch” (Glam Adelaide).