Rod Quantock OAM
Comedian, Political Satirist & MC
A pioneering Australian comedian, political satirist, MC, and keynote speaker. With a career spanning over fifty years, he has appeared at every Melbourne International Comedy Festival, co-created ABC-TV’s Australia, You’re Standing In It, and broken new ground in political and social satire. Rod is a highly sought-after MC and speaker, known for sharp insight, humour, and credibility at conferences and professional events.
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Rod Quantock OAM is a pioneer of contemporary Australian comedy and one of the nation’s most influential satirical voices. Born in Melbourne, he began performing in 1968 with the Melbourne University Architect’s Revue, earning his first review as “an amiable buffoon” in the Herald Sun. Over a career spanning more than fifty years, Rod has helped establish the art of stand-up and ensemble comedy in Australia, laying the foundations of the industry.
He was an inaugural Board Member of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and, as of 2020, remains the only performer to have appeared in all 33 Festivals. His work has been described as reminiscent of Michael Leunig’s cartoons — combining humour, humanity and pointed social critique.
On television, Rod co-conceived and co-starred in ABC-TV’s Australia, You’re Standing In It (1983–84), the first ABC comedy produced outside Sydney, opening the door to a golden era of Melbourne-made comedy. He has consistently broken new ground, being the first comedian to satirise corporate politics, indigenous history, refugee issues, media commentators, climate change, and sustainability.
Rod’s activism is integral to his work. He has supported hundreds of NGOs and community groups, used his platform to challenge authority, and even influenced political outcomes, notably through his 1999 show A Major Event. While his outspoken approach has occasionally come at personal and professional cost, his commitment to social justice and humanist philosophy has remained unwavering.
In recent years, Rod’s work has been informed by university research, fellowships at Melbourne University, and a deep engagement with climate change, sustainability, and civic advocacy. His comedy continues to combine meticulous research, sharp political insight, and irrepressible humour, offering audiences work that is barbed, cathartic, considered, and endlessly relevant.
He is a highly sought-after speaker, MC and facilitator whose intelligence, stage experience, and quick wit make him an ideal host or keynote for professional events. Unflappable, funny, and engaging with people from all backgrounds, Rod brings credibility, humour, and humanity to every event he leads.
