Nominee Golden Gibbo 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Adelaide Fringe Fund Recipient 2024

With a brain that won’t stop and body that slows her down, award-nominated writer/comedian Ashley Apap obliterates her comfort zone in her first hour of stand-up.

Being unsettled is a default for Apap - finding calm in the ridiculousness of existence, she is most at ease when embracing chaos. In RESTLESS, Ashley reaches for comfort and connection to get out of her head, and into your heart.

Through her offbeat performance style, clever misdirection and cheeky crowd work, Apap demonstrates the tension that propels her very being. RESTLESS is one Silly Duffer’s absurdist attempt at laughing in the face of her endless overwhelm. With the help of cautious optimism, an enduring curiosity for truth and a fondness for friendship, Ashley is not taking standing up, lying down.

Ashley Apap is a Melbourne/Naarm-based writer/comedian whose work focuses on melding accessibility, silliness and sincerity. Her debut Melbourne International Comedy Festival hour Ouch! was nominated for the 2022 Golden Gibbo Award and played to sold out crowds and she's since been performing her high-energy stand-up, sketch, improv and musical comedy around Australia. Ashley recently made her professional acting debut in the new Malthouse Theatre work 'Telethon Kid' as well as creating/writing/producing her new video podcast 'Scamp' (produced with Stupid Old Studios for Powerd Media). Available on Powerd Media's streaming platform that showcases content made by disabled artists, it encapsulates Ashley's colourful, quick, unique sense of humour in a world made by and for her relentless mind. Classified by The Age as having “great comic potential” and “a voice not often heard”, Ashley is a breath of fresh air in the Melbourne comedy scene.

'Great comic potential... a voice not often heard.' The Age

'Apap is unapologetically and unashamedly brilliant.' Weekend Notes

'Apap’s stand-up skills are exceptional... a natural performer and a gifted comic.' Theatre Travels

'Ashley delivered an offbeat set but with such a charismatic and entrancing manner that she had the audience immediately engaged.' Hugging Comedians

★★★★ Theatre Thoughts

★★★★ Theatre People