Laughs Await at PIP Theatre in Milton with ‘Esther Hicks’ Show

A unique and interactive comedy show exploring the quirky teachings of New Age speaker “Esther Hicks” is set to entertain audiences at PIP Theatre’s Toucan Club Festival in Milton. 



A Comedy with a New Age Twist Comes to Milton

The show, titled “Esther Hicks is Vibrationally Speaking,” running from 27 to 30 November, is the brainchild of local writer and performer Claire Pearson, who brings her 20 years of theatre experience back to Brisbane after a stint in Melbourne. The production has gained popularity for its humorous take on the teachings of real-life figures Esther and Jerry Hicks, known for promoting ideas around the “Law of Attraction” and manifesting one’s desires through positive thinking.

Originally staged in Melbourne, where it garnered strong reviews for its originality and humour, “Esther Hicks is Vibrationally Speaking” will now make its Brisbane debut at the PIP Theatre as part of the annual Toucan Club Live Arts & Cabaret Festival. Ms Pearson, an Indooroopilly-based talent, stars in the show alongside comedian Kyle Walmsley, a RAW National finalist from 2012.

About the Show

In “Esther Hicks is Vibrationally Speaking,” Ms Pearson plays “Esther,” who channels a non-physical entity called “Abraham” and imparts New Age wisdom in a comedic, workshop-like setting. Her husband, “Jerry,” portrayed by Mr Walmsley, adds to the absurdity as they guide the audience through the strange concepts of the vortex, manifestation, and other beliefs associated with the Law of Attraction. The show’s humour is rooted in its satirical approach to these teachings, engaging the audience with interactive elements that make each performance unique and unpredictable.

Directed by award-winning director Elizabeth Millington, the performance promises laughs and an immersive experience as the audience is encouraged to dive into the bizarre world of “vibrational speaking.” Past viewers have described the show as “absurd, unpredictable, and utterly hilarious,” with Ms Pearson’s comedic timing and Walmsley’s quick wit keeping the energy high throughout.

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Returning to Brisbane for Local Audiences

Ms Pearson is thrilled to bring this show to Brisbane, highlighting the local communities of Milton, Indooroopilly, and Toowong. Having performed in Melbourne for over a decade, Ms Pearson is now based in Brisbane and eager to reconnect with audiences in her home city. 

She expressed excitement about the opportunity to showcase her work at PIP Theatre, known for supporting independent artists and promoting live performances in the local community. With Brisbane audiences set to experience the show for the first time, Ms Pearson hopes to introduce them to the humour and insight that made the Melbourne shows such a hit.



The Toucan Club Festival, held annually at PIP Theatre in Milton, celebrates live arts and cabaret that attracts diverse local talent and audiences. This year’s festival is expected to draw interest from residents and comedy fans alike, especially those intrigued by New Age culture and the humour of self-help parodies.

Published 15-Nov-2024

Pip Theatre: The Tie That Binds Four Amazing Women Together

Deidre Grace has always been passionate about everything she does. As a businesswoman, she and her husband ran People in Plastic, an industrial wholesaler in Brisbane with a national reach. As an actor and theatre producer, she gave her all to her craft and couldn’t help but notice the lack of affordable and accessible performance venues to stage her own work. This need became the seed that led her to put up Milton’s Pip Theatre, a production company and venue for like-minded arts organisations to hire.



With a single-minded purpose, Deidre went to work putting together her dream team, starting with Michelle Apps, Co-Founder and Company Director of Pip Theatre. Michelle has superb qualifications in IT, finance and governance and was on the lookout for a project that fulfilled a worthy social purpose, one that would use her skills and have a lasting impact on the community.

On the creative side, Amelia Slatter, a graduate of Bachelor of Creative Industries Drama at QUT, takes care of the venue’s programming and development as a premier entertainment hub by tapping into and creating opportunities for local creatives to get their chance to shine in the spotlight at PIP theatre. 

Jenna Todd, the Marketing Director with a business degree from QUT, communicates and promotes the vision and values of the theatre, especially on online media. 

Before Pip Theatre

Whilst Pip Theatre opened in 2022, it was anchored with the establishment of the Dome Dance Bar in the 1990s. Multiple shows were done at this venue in a unique skylit dome, which paved the way for its transformation into the Toucan Bar.

Photo Credit: PipTheatre Time Capsule

The Toucan Bar was a brightly-coloured Toucan-themed dance venue that attracted a crowd of dancers week after week. More than a decade later, however, the site was reborn as Maggie Black’s Jazz Bar in 2007. Here, lively and captivating jazz music brought a cosy and intimate atmosphere. 

Pip Theatre
Photo Credit: PipTheatre Time Capsule

By 2011, the jazz bar had become the Brazilian Touch, another Toucan-themed site that served Brazilian dishes. However, the once exciting site was redeveloped as the Milton Dome offices in 2012, closing the chapter on this precinct as an entertainment site until Pip Theatre revived it.

Upcoming Shows

After “Bombshells” in January 2023 and “Moon With a View” in late 2022, Pip Theatre’s lineup of shows for the rest of 2023 includes powerful, compelling and rousing stories.  

“Grand Horizons” is a comedic play delving into how a family grapples over the divorce of a 50-year marriage. Bess Wohl wrote the story.



“Beginning” looks hard at making connections, online dating, and dealing with life’s baggage. First shown in London and then at the West End, this play by David Eldridge makes its Australian debut at the Pip Theatre. 

“The Penelopiad” is an adaptation by Margaret Atwood based on the story of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus. 

Pip Theatre is also open for co-production with external directors and producers or venue hire for one-off shows. Phone (07) 3275 4900 for enquiries or check out their Instagram page for more information.

Published 11-April-2023