Draft:Como String Quartet
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The Como String Quartet | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Melbourne, Australia |
| Genres | Musical comedy |
| Years active | 1980s |
The Como String Quartet was a short lived[1] Australian musical comedy group active during the 1980s and 1990s. Despite the name, the ensemble consisted of five classically trained musicians. Founded in Melbourne in 1983, they developed a comedic performance style blending classical music with physical comedy. They first gained attention as street performers, winning prizes in busking competitions in London, Cardiff, and Melbourne. Two appearances in 1987 on the Australian variety program Hey Hey It's Saturday boosted their visibility on the national comedy scene.
Early career
[edit]The group performed in all of Melbourne´s major classical venues, including The Melbourne Concert Hall and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.[2] They performed with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at the Adelaide Town Hall.[3]
The ensemble collaborated with Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors on their album Human Frailty. [4] and Australian rock band, Big Pig, on their Bonk_(album).[5]
The quartet performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Adelaide Fringe.[6]
International career
[edit]In 1988 the group moved to London to work with theatre director Nica Burns. They later performed at the Donmar Warehouse and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, returning in 1990[7] They also participated in the Liverpool Comedy Festival.[8]
They made their British television debut on London Weekend Television’s 1st Exposure, hosted by Arthur Smith.[9] They performed for a celebrity audience before a taping of An Audience with Victoria Wood.[10]
Their final UK television appearance was on the Jim Henson Productions series The Ghost of Faffner Hall, where they were credited as special musical guests.[11]
Group members
[edit]- Hung Le[12]
- Peter Bucknell
- George Vi
- Glen Nichols
- Nicholas Galloway
- Alex Black
- Peter O’Reilly
References
[edit]- ^ "Suffer in Your Jocks | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
- ^ [Reliable source verifying early venue performances]
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
festivalswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ [4]
- ^ [Reliable source for Liverpool performance]
- ^ [5]
- ^ [Reliable source confirming appearance with Victoria Wood]
- ^ [6]
- ^ Le, Hung (22 February 2018). Crappiest Refugee. Affirm Press. ISBN 978-1-925712-36-0.
External links
[edit]