Brisbane review - Taruna Jayawardhana’s A Classic Tale: truly funny, with wide appeal

By David Wilson

Written and performed by Liam Hartley

Based on the homework of Taruna Jayawardhana

Follow the show on Instagram @aclassictaleshow

29 January 2026

Good Chat Comedy Club

https://goodchatcomedy.com/

Following a successful run at the Toucan Club Festival, Brisbane-based stand-up comedian and actor Liam Hartley brought his debut one-man show back to the Good Chat Comedy Club on Caxton Street where his stand-up career began. For one night only, the audience was treated to a clever, unique and wonderfully original work that was simply outstanding from start to finish.

Thirteen years ago, in an eighth grade English class, a teenage boy was given a simple assignment: write an unconventional fairy tale. Little did he know he was crafting the greatest story ever written! That boy’s name was Taruna Jayawardhana, and that story was “A Classic Tale’. Now, years later, a classmate has recovered this fantastical saga of swords, dragons, love, betrayal, adventure and prescription medication, to finally share it with the world.

By any measure, this show is absolutely fantastic and the audience was justifiably rapturous in appreciation throughout. The show was not only cleverly conceived, but also brilliantly executed by the very talented Liam Hartley. The unique blend of stand-up, pantomime, audience participation and crowd work was wonderfully woven together by Hartley who has created something much more than a one-man show - this is a show with obvious heart and passion that is truly funny, with wide appeal.

If you get the chance to see this show, I encourage you to get tickets without delay. When it makes a return to Brisbane, I will certainly be seeing it again!

In great news for those in Melbourne, Hartley is taking the show on the road, performing at the prestigious Melbourne International Comedy Festival on 16 and 18 April 2026. Enjoy!