Featuring the irreverent comedic duo of Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs, the HealthWISE-hosted show is a chance for locals to unwind over a three-course meal. 

The pair’s rapid fire style promises to deliver laughs “every 15 seconds” and touches on housework, love, chickens, resentment and fit bits. 

It started out as an idea by the two comics to step away from the male-dominated comedy scene into venues where women’s stories and experiences are centre stage. They call themselves ‘the bogan woman’s thinking woman and the thinking woman’s bogan’.

“We want our comedy to demystify a lot of the garbage that we’re fed about being women,” Ellen said. 

“We tell everyday stories about our struggles, our failure to parent, the beauty industry, getting fatter, strange surgeries, obsessions, frustrations, and at the end of the day ‘who unpacks the dishwasher’”.

She promised that it’s not just a show for women. 

“In the same way a comedy show by two men would never be seen as a bloke’s only show. Women Like Us is about making our experiences universal rather than ‘niche’,” she said.

“And as it turns out, there are a lot more Women Like Us out there then we ever realised. There’s even a growing tribe of men Like Us too!”

Mandy is a columnist for the Byron Shire Echo, and writes regularly for Mamamia. She has appeared on ABC Q&A, SBS Mum’s the Word and About Women, and is in demand as a corporate and club performer around the country. 

Ellen is a national finalist for RAW comedy and winner of Foxtel Comedy Channel's Be A Comedian. The two women have well over 30 years of comedy experience between them, and this year they released their book Women Like Us nationally.

“These two ladies, they are born performers. They do an hour each of comedy and they are hilarious,” Inverell HealthWISE nurse Chris Connor said.

“And I think everybody needs to get back to basics again and enjoy it and have a good laugh and come away refreshed, looking at life a bit differently.” 

The pair will appear at the Guyra Community Hall at the Guyra Showgrounds on Friday, November 23, 6pm for 6.30pm. 

Guest speakers include HealthWISE dietitian Anna Hicks, presenting Food for Mood, HealthWISE mental health clinician Kate Stewart, presenting Do You See What I See – Women and Self Care and Friendly Faces, Helping Hands chief executive officer Kelly Foran.

Women Like Us will then move on to the Warialda Town Hall on Saturday, November 24, 6pm for 6.30pm.

Guest speakers include HealthWISE dietitian Phoebe Nelson, presenting Gut Health and Food for Mood, HNE Health women’s health clinician Margie Burns speaking on Women’s Health and Wellness, psychologist Elizabeth Lloyd, presenting Resilience and Wellbeing and Kelly Foran from Friendly Faces, Helping Hands. 

Both evenings are $25 per per person, and include the cost of the show and a meal. A wide variety of stall holders will attend the events, with jewellery, clothing and linens on sale.

Along with HealthWISE, Bingara’s Unleash The Black Dog Ball Committee and the Warialda Multipurpose Centre HNE Health are supporting the Warialda event