Australian physical-comedy duo Lano & Woodley have been making high-quality shows for a long time (albeit with a gap). A common thread is the tension between Colin ‘Lano’ Lane’s rigid view of what their shows should be, and Frank Woodley’s irrepressible need to muck around.
Whilst this dynamic remains, there’s a new level of topicality to their latest offering: Lano & Woodley in Space. As the regular and loud laughter in the house showed, it’s a stellar outing for both experienced L&W travellers and new recruits.
Since re-forming back in 2016, Lano & Woodley have often placed their physical silliness in well-crafted shows with a historical bent. Their recent-ish Moby Dick (MICF 2022) had the pair tackle Herman Melville’s novel, bringing Lane’s literary aspirations into conflict with Woodley’s flippancy. But now it’s time to launch into the space age, opening up new horizons.
Commander Col and Co-pilot Frank have been selected for an Australian space agency mission to Mars. Even the uninitiated will quickly see that, despite some macho posturing, this is probably not a suitable crew for the assignment.
As is typical for a Lano & Woodley show, it’s often necessary to pause the narrative so that the performers can address some issue. The subject-matter choice here opens up a new area of friction: Woodley’s childlike wonder and hand-made props against Lano’s insistence that AI will quickly and easily produce a show that looks far more professional.
As you might expect, the following action cheekily references Sci-Fi themes, from horror to when humans begin to wonder about the reliability of their machines.
This latter area naturally allows a little needling of our modern anxieties. At one point a screen showed us an uncanny, not-quite-right AI-generated Lane proceeding with the mission. We could ponder: what will humanity lose in a near future of efficient – yet soulless – automation?
Fear not space cadets, for this is very definitely a comedy. Most of the show employs the pair’s battle-hardened charms. A scene on navigating an airlock illustrated their absolute commitment to escalating physical stupidity. Each still takes opportunities for improvisation, causing amusing diversions. Popular song lyrics changed to suit the galactic setting also earned a good volume of laughter.
Long-time fans in the house enjoyed call-backs to vintage L&W shows, whether through the repurposing of notable lines or the reprise of some gestures. And at the end of all the shenanigans, surprising moments, and goofy props, maybe (until next time perhaps?) a lesson is learned.
The Comedy Theatre had a big crowd on a Monday night, which says something about the consistency of our performers. The house certainly got a lot of mirth from the show’s 60 minutes. Seasoned comedy-goers will surely find that Lano & Woodley in Space has the narrative thrust to blast into a higher comedic orbit than much on offer at MICF 2026.
Lano & Woodley in Space
Comedy Theatre, Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Performance: Monday 30 March 2026 (7:30pm)
Season continues to 5 April 2026
Bookings: www.comedyfestival.com.au
An additional performance will be presented at the Regent Theatre on Saturday 11 April 2026. For more information, visit: www.comedyfestival.com.au for details.
Image: Lano & Woodley in Space (supplied)
Review: Jason Whyte