Tom Gleeson - Out of Touch
The Vagabond at the Garden of Unearthly Delights
Thu, Feb 26, 2026

Tom Gleeson is a big celebrity these days, hugely famous. And how do we know? Because he just told us! Tom also wants us to know just how out of touch he is now with us common little folk.

Immediately engaging the audience with mischievous banter, within the first 5 minutes Tom has already taken swipes at the venue, the audience and other comedians (Well mainly Hughesy). He’s reading the room, sizing us up to gauge how far he can push that envelope. We don’t seem to mind and are already in the palm of his hand.

Tom's family adventures provide some of the funniest stories, whether it's extreme games and pranks with his brothers, his son's antics at kindy or his wife’s commentary on bin night, bringing Tom back down to earth with a bang. Sometimes literally. 

It's a sophisticated trick he performs, straddling the lines between what’s acceptable and what’s offensive and sometimes just plain wrong. It's done with a wink of course. Stretching scenarios as far as he can just before he senses he may be about to lose us only to reel us back in with a disclaimer, reminding us that perhaps he may not actually believe what he is saying - it is a comedy show after all. It's Tom's evident joy at doing what he does for a living that is so infectious. It's that cherub cheeked face and that glint in his eye as he looks slightly askew that gives it away that something even more outrageous is about to be spoken.

He draws the show to its conclusion by asking the audience how much of what he has been talking about for the last hour do we think was actually true. Then the penny drops. Maybe the whole show has been a pack of lies. It turns out not but maybe they didn’t happen exactly as Tom wanted us to believe.

Tom’s abilities and experience gained from longevity are all on show here. Switching from scripted to improvisation as he deals with hecklers and overzealous front rowers, the perceived chaos and resulting mirth is actually all under his control. It's a masterclass in stand-up which will only get better with each performance of his Fringe run.

Surely one day Tom will meet his match, will be knocked off his perch, but not just yet. Right now Tom Gleeson is king of the mountain and he’s loving it! (Just don’t tell his wife, or Hughesy!)