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Yianni Agisilaou

SOLO PERFORMANCE
September 2004 - Current
Professional UK Circuit Comic. MC and performer for:
· Jongleurs
· Up the Creek
· Glee Club
· Lee Hurst's Backyard
· Komedia
· The Hyena
· Banana Cabaret
· Mirth Control
· Off the Kerb

I have also supported Perrier nominated Mark Watson on his 2007 tour of his show 'I'm worried that I'm beginning to hate almost everyone in the world"

TV
2005 - The World Stands Up - PARAMOUNT COMEDY CHANNEL (UK), The Comedy Channel (Aus)

2002 - Grand Finalist - "Take the Mic" - ITV (UK)
Reached the Grand Final of the ITV "Take the Mic" stand up competition in London, from a field of over 100 people. Two separate 10 minute performances were broadcast nationally across England on ITV.

2001 - Raw Comedy Grand Final - ABC TV (Aus)
Melbourne Town Hall - Main Hall
The Grand Final of the 6th Annual Raw Comedy Competition featured the best 15 performers, narrowed down from an original field of around 1000. My 5 minute routine in front of 1500 people at the Melbourne Town Hall was broadcast nationally on ABC Television.

Overseas Gigs

April 2007 - Ski Resort, GRAZ, AUSTRIA

March 2007 - Jersey, CHANNEL ISLANDS (Headliner)

February 2007 - Cuba, GALWAY, IRELAND (Headliner)

September 2006 - Mirth Control - ALICANTE, SPAIN (MC)

July 2006 - One Night Stand - SINGAPORE (MC)

July 2006 - Arts Centre - ARMAGH, NORTHERN IRELAND (Support)

July 2006 - The Diplomat Radisson - MANAMA, BAHRAIN (MC)
November 2005 - Dubai Comedy Festival - DUBAI, UAE (Headliner)

October 2005 - Funny Farm Comedy Club - ATLANTA, USA (Support)
September 2005 - Heavyweight Comedy Jam - JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
August 2005 - Mini tour - REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, NORTHERN IRELAND (Headliner)
July 2005 - Toomler Comedy Club - AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (Support)
February 2005 - The Diplomat Radisson - MANAMA, BAHRAIN (MC)

Corporate Gigs

January 2007 - American Women's Association of London

January 2007 - Maidstone Army Barracks lunchtime gig in Officer's Mess

November 2006 - Dental Association Annual Ball

November 2006 - Capital One Laugh and Lunch

April 2006 - Alfred Hospital Melbourne Lunchtime Comedy

December 2005 - University College London Law School Christmas Ball

April 2005, 2006 and 2007 - Law Institute of Victoria Comedy Debate
May 2003 - Entertained 500 extras during breaks in filming of Australian feature film 'Josh Jarman'

Festival Reviews
I have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe festival for the last 4 years, performing my first solo show there last year. I have taken part in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival every year since 1999 performing either stand up or improvisation.

2006 - EDINBRUGH FRINGE FESTIVAL - "Yianni's Head"
REVIEW
From Chortle (4 STARS) ****
This is a real gem of a show, buried in the wrong, much-too-late slot. However it is testament to the skill of the writing and the warmth of his performance that a sparklingly intelligent, emotionally aware piece succeeded with an audience that included a quota of late-night drunks who sat with rapt attention when they'd probably been more at home with an hour of wank jokes and stereotypes.

Australian Yianni takes the idea of examining the four controlling voices in his head, considering the drives and desires of love, fear, libido and logic and their different contributions to his relationships. He creates a magical hour of unsentimental but heartfelt, vulnerable comedy. He manages to do sincere without making the audience want to puke, as he brings plenty of clear-sighted humorous honesty to the table.

He characterises the voices, rather well, with clipped English for logic, neurotic, squeaky for fear (think Aussie Woody Allen), dashingly French Pierre for libido, and pretty much his natural voice for love.

The stories of his childhood, early chatting up gambits (failed), the quoted observations that would have been better left unsaid are hugely entertaining and the transition seamless between anecdotes and the battling internal monologues. With a less assured performer the conceit of different voices might have been really clunking­ one of his mates had apparently suggested using hats to illustrate the point ­ but lucky for us Yianni is a subtle actor and he chooses to use this skill.

It's very funny and rings true, like the best comedy writing that clarifies and crystallises your own views, rather than waffling around with deliberately surreal or outrageous observations. It's a refreshing, highly amusing hour, he engages with the audience, very likeably performed and backed with fine writing.

Julia Chamberlain

2004 - MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL - "Black and White"
My second full length show. Dealt with the idea of whether truth is absolute or relative.
REVIEW
From Beat Magazine
Is truth relative or absolute? If you and I attend a comedy show and I think it's gut wrenchingly funny whilst you think it's painful, which of us is right? You? Me? Both of us? None of us?
This is the premise of local comedian Yianni's show Black and White. Although it might seem quite a cerebral concept, don't let that put you off a show which is well thought out, fast paced and most importantly very very funny.

The premise allows Yianni to cover a range of subject matter, the idea of people's differing perceptions leading to some great jokes. With a show like this there is always a risk of being interesting and clever rather than funny, but happily this show is both, containing a blend of logic jokes, absurd characters and apt observations .

Yianni's material stems from observation and personal experience, with a substantial section devoted to the subject of names, the hardship of living with the name "Yianni" and his marriage obsessed Greek grandmother whose worldview clashes substantially with his.

Characters such as his Grandmother are all brought to life using Yianni's greatest comedic strength, his uncanny ability to mimic voices. From impersonating his Grandmother to depicting Gollum as a struggling stand up, Yianni's imitations are a stand out feature of this show.

Festival Highlights often come about from completely unknown shows which impress well above expectations rather than bigger name acts. This is one such show. Highly recommended (although as Yianni would insist I say, that is not absolute truth, only my opinion).

2003 - MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL - "USA"
REVIEWS
From www.comedylive.au.com
Yianni Agisilaou has travelled the world, spending a year in the UK and returning via the US, and now he's back to regale us with stories and impart observations of society today. While the backpacking experience is nothing new to the world of comedy, Yianni in the USA provides audiences with the right mix of stereotypes and individual experiences. Tales of his own Greek heritage and what they have had to offer the world in the way of culture past and present, in comparison to the current and smug world leaders America, are delightfully told and provide some of the biggest laughs in the show. It all may seem quite obvious humour, but Yianni has the talent to make this material appear fresh and exciting. Agisilaou, best known so far as a Raw Comedy Finalist in 2001, shows with a sizable amount of experience gained during his time on the scene in the UK, he has transformed into a comic with skilful timing and all the markings of a seasoned pro. With the ability to provide a consistently hilarious 50 minute show, we are sure that this young man is the one to watch on the circuit and a frontrunner for the Barry Newcomer Award this year.*** ½
Sharleen Wright

From Beat Magazine
At this point in time, there should be no more topical, more relevant show in the comedy festival than Yianni's U.S.A. Written late last year after a whirlwind post September 11 tour through the States it features brilliant impersonations, hilarious sarcasm and relentless piss taking of American cultural products. Yianni, who was robbed in the 2001 Raw Comedy Finals is a fast, friendly and perceptive comic.

The tiny surrounds of the Victoria Hotel restrict Yianni's energetic, physical performance, but those venturing underground will find a show that offers fresh perspectives on clichéd targets. His material is great - conversations with an American Winter Olympian are a highlight - and his crowd involvement makes it a friendly, warm show
Dan Ziffer

2002 - EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL - "Raw Prawns"
Gilded Balloon Caves
Stand up showcase show. Myself and 4 other hand picked Australia comedians performed 15 minute sets each night.

2001 - MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL - Raw Comedy Grand Final

"Particularly noteworthy were Michael Chamberlin, Ross Janetzki, Penny Tangey and Yianni Agisilaou" - http://speedysnail.com/textuary/melb_comedy_2001.html

"The most memorable acts, in my opinion, were Xavier Michaledes, Yianni Agisilaou and Ronan McChesney. I thought that Yianni probably should've been the winner, with his fantastic voices and impressions, but also his other material too" http://comedydownunder.com/extras/reviews/variety01comfestreviews.html