Mark McConville is a highly experienced Australian stand-up comedian, MC and keynote speaker who has worked professionally in the entertainment industry since 1998. Over more than 25 years on the road he has performed in comedy clubs, pubs, corporate events, casinos and on cruise ships throughout Australia, bringing laughter to audiences from Brisbane and the Gold Coast to Melbourne, regional towns and even international guests aboard tours. He’s built a reputation as one of the most reliable and versatile performers in Australian comedy, equally comfortable delivering rapid-fire punchlines or engaging audiences with easy-going storytelling that feels like he’s talking to friends. McConville has appeared on major television channels and radio stations, including featured segments on Home Delivered Comedy for The Comedy Channel and nationwide radio broadcasts under the “Home Grown Humour” banner, but his live shows remain the heart of his comedic career.
Beyond stand-up, McConville’s achievements include a unique blend of comedy and academic work. In 2018 he graduated from Griffith University with a Master’s degree in Suicidology and was subsequently appointed as an Adjunct Lecturer at The Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP), where he uses his expertise and lived experience to inform presentations on mental health, resilience and the benefits of humour. His signature keynote and workshop, The Laughter Clinic, has been delivered at corporate events, community forums and national conferences, and in 2021 he was invited to present this workshop at the 31st International Association for Suicide Prevention World Congress, a major global forum for suicide prevention professionals.
McConville’s comedy style blends autobiographical insight with sharp observations about everyday life, delivered with a direct, personable manner that quickly engages audiences and keeps them laughing. While specific records of shared billing with entertainers like some mainstream headliners aren’t broadly published, he has been a headline comedian and MC at major Australian venues such as Dockside Comedy Bar, Sit Down Comedy Club, Gold Coast Arts Centre and both Treasury and Jupiters Casinos, and has entertained audiences of thousands at large festivals and events — including an audience of around 3,000 at The Gympie Muster. His work as a master of ceremonies, corporate entertainer and mental health presenter has put him alongside a wide range of performers and keynote speakers across the industry, and his long-standing presence on the national comedy circuit marks him as a respected figure in Australian comedy.
Get ready for the biggest and best day of comedy in Queensland, the Beenleigh Comedy Festival is taking over the Beenleigh Artisan Rum Distillery on Saturday 18th April from 3 pm - 9 pm