There’s something inherently absurd about travel. The best-laid plans are often waylaid by missed flights, dubious hostels, and the occasional run-in with a rogue animal or a shirtless man on acid. It is this very unpredictability—this untethered sense of movement—that forms the backbone of Vagrants, the latest offering from comedy writer and rising stand up star, David Hughes, and the globetrotting Tait Middleton.
Staged as part of A Festival in a Festival, the ambitious new initiative from Grassroots Comedy, Vagrants is more than just a split bill—it’s a window into two distinct comic minds, both of whom have built careers on observing (and surviving) the absurdities of the world. Grassroots Comedy, spearheaded by comedian and producer Xavier Susai, has been instrumental in shaping Western Australia’s indie comedy scene. With Fringe World as its playground, A Festival in a Festival curates exclusive, one-off performances that highlight both emerging and established talent.
The Writer Who Walked on Stage
David Hughes is no stranger to a punchline—he’s spent years crafting them for others. As a writer on Trailer Park Boys, Mock the Week, and The Project, his comedic fingerprints are all over television. But where TV writing is a meticulous, collaborative process, stand-up is a lone-wolf endeavour.
“Performing and the preparation that goes into it, for me at least, is almost entirely a solo effort,” Hughes says. “Even in a split show like this, Tait does his thing, and I do mine. Writing for TV involves a lot of feedback and editing, but stand-up is raw. The feedback is instantaneous—you just can’t necessarily act on it right away.”
That rawness, that immediacy, is what pulled Hughes from the writer’s room to the stage.
“It’s definitely not a coping mechanism for anything—it’s entirely too stressful for that,” he says. “But it’s fun. It’s an extension of my writing, except now I’m writing in my own voice, not someone else’s. Maybe that’s a little cathartic.”
Absurdity, he argues, transcends borders.
“My lens shifted a lot when my son was born, but I don’t think travel changed my comedic sensibilities too much. At the end of the day, what nationality doesn’t love a good dick joke?”
The Nomad with a Microphone
Tait Middleton, meanwhile, approaches stand-up as an explorer might approach an uncharted map—with enthusiasm, a few missteps, and the occasional run-in with danger. From rural Victoria to London and Vancouver, his comedy has been shaped by the places he’s been, the people he’s met, and, in some cases, the misfortunes he’s suffered.
“I won’t go into great detail, because a lot of these stories are in the show,” Middleton teases. “But let’s just say I’ve been responsible for stopping a film set from shooting, accidentally warned a gang of chavs in Manchester about impending doom, and had an incident involving a pet rat and a Tinder date.”
For Middleton, the thrill of stand-up—particularly in new places—comes from the challenge.
“Rural gigs are the best,” he says. “The warmest crowds, the biggest reactions. They’re just happy you’ve taken the time to come to their town and perform. That’s special. Cities, though, expect more. They’re spoiled for choice. If you can crack a city crowd, that opens doors elsewhere.”
Middleton first encountered Susai when he arrived in Perth in 2021.
“I came over from Victoria to escape COVID, and Xav was just starting Grassroots Comedy,” he recalls. “We’d talk about what made a good room and what didn’t. He started Experimental Comedy Club while I was here, and I did some videography for it. Now he’s running multiple rooms across WA. So, obviously, I take full credit for his success.”
A Festival Inside a Festival
It’s fitting, then, that Vagrants is now part of A Festival in a Festival, Susai’s latest experiment in amplifying independent comedy. Bringing together seasoned pros and rising stars, the initiative acts as a kind of microcosm of Fringe itself—showcasing solo sets, live podcasts, and curated showcases with a revolving line-up. It’s an initiative designed not only to spotlight talent but to create a deeper connection between performers and audiences.
“Grassroots Comedy provided me and many others with a place to perform regularly,” Hughes says. “In my early days, it was the perfect way to meet other comics—new and experienced.”
Middleton echoes the sentiment but in his own distinctly deadpan way.
“I take the WA mining approach to comedy,” he jokes. “Sneak in, take as much as I can, leave without a trace. And if things go wrong, pay someone off.”
A Roadmap to Chaos
Fringe festivals are chaotic by nature, and Vagrants is well-suited to that energy.
“A guy once came up to me after a show and complained that he had urine on his shoes,” Hughes recalls. “Then he clarified it was his urine—but he was still going to leave a bad review.”
Middleton, for his part, has handled hecklers on acid, drunken audience members convinced they’re the real star of the show, and the occasional total blackout.
“Once, the spotlight went out mid-set,” he says. “That’s always fun.”
When asked how he’d define Vagrants as a travel experience, Middleton doesn’t hesitate.
“I’d love to say luxury escape, but it’s a rugged backpacking adventure. There will be ups and downs. I might get lost at some point. But at the end of the day, you’re happy you went, you saw some cool stuff, and you didn’t get eaten by a bear.”
For Hughes, the sales pitch is even simpler:
“It’s an excellent show, but I’ll livestream it for you, ya lunatic.”
When: 8th of Feb, @ 7pm
Where: The Freo Fringe Hub at Ronnie Nights, Fremantle
Tickets: Fringe World – A Festival in a Festival – Click here
For more information click here
