Madeleine Swain

Madeleine Swain is ArtsHub’s managing editor. Originally from England where she trained as an actor, she has over 30 years’ experience as a writer, editor and film reviewer in print, television, radio and online. She is also currently President of JOY Media and Chair of the Board.

Madeleine Swain's Latest Articles

A Caucasian woman with short curly dark hair has her eyes closed and is holding a picture over the lower half of her face with a big smiling mouth on it. Ruby Wax
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Comedy review: Ruby Wax, I'm Not As Well As I Thought I Was, Comedy Theatre, MICF 2025

You think it's comical being treated for severe depression? Ruby Wax can see the funny side.

A Caucasian woman with shoulder length blonde hair and a flower pattern blouse has a butterfly on her raised hand and three more flying around her head. Sara Pascoe. I Am A Strange Gloop
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Comedy review: Sara Pascoe, I Am A Strange Gloop, Melbourne Town Hall, MICF 2025

Sara Pascoe got married and had children. She's happy about that... mostly.

against a pink background a woman with a grey mohawk and a short sleeved colourful shirt smiles at the camera. Geraldine Hickey
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Comedy review: Geraldine Hickey, Meander, Fairfax Studio, MICF 2025

Seeing Hickey is like catching up with an old and genuinely beloved friend... who doesn't happen to know north from…

A young man in a blue shirt with an acoustic guitar plays on a small outdoor stage with his eyes closed. Flynn Gurry. Port Fairy Folk Festival.
Features

The best of the rest of the fest – Port Fairy Folk Festival

While other festivals are falling by the wayside thanks to cost of living stresses and insurance challenges, Port Fairy continues…

News

Melbourne International Comedy Festival kicks off with the Gala

The MICF Gala is a time-honoured tradition that has the funny flying at you from 23 different directions.

people milling around a gallery space talking and looking at the art. ngaratya NETS Victoria
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Art for all: bringing high-quality exhibitions to the regions

NETS Victoria’s EDF means that groundbreaking contemporary Australian art is accessible to people across the regions.

A woman with longish dark brown hair and a green, white and black dress, sings into a mic with her eyes closed. Missy Higgins. Port Fairy Folk Festival.
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Music review: Missy Higgins, Port Fairy Folk Festival

A natural fit for the Port Fairy stage, one of Australia's favourite singer/songwriters did not let us down.

A woman in a shoulder less black top with short bleached hair sings in to a microphone. She looks a little tortured. Cat Power. Port Fairy Folk Festival.
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Music review: Cat Power Sings Dylan, Port Fairy Folk Festival

When a performer truly shows their vulnerability, sometimes that can give rise to the greatest gigs of all.

Sponsored

A master storyteller willing to connect: Rob Carlton

The Silver Logie winner is bringing his powerful and award-winning one-man show, ‘Willing Participant’ to MICF 2025.

left panel: a cinema audience with a huge red plush curtain and a small screen with the words My Brilliant Career on it. right panel: a middle aged Caucasian man in a beige jacket and blue shirt holding a microphone
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Book review: Melbourne and the Movies, Ross Campbell

A wonderfully rich treasure trove recounting the history of the silver screen in Melbourne through the eyes of a true…

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