Justine Sless BA MA
Author , Comedian & Kvetcher in the Wry
Hello - my latest book is Measured Silk & Other Stories
"Lyrical and spare,Sless's prose etches an emotional heft so deep
that it almost feels like a sleight of hand."
I teach, write, research and perform stand up comedy.
I am also a skilled community cultural development worker.
Born and raised in Sunderland UK now living in Melbourne Australia.
Ordinary details shine, the domestic sparkles with wit, this is a writer who understands that behind every joke is a sad story told with a grin.
Angela Readman (author of Don't Try This at Home, & The Girls are Pretty Crocodiles)
Lyrical and spare, Sless's prose etches an emotional heft so deep that it almost feels like a sleight of hand. Infused with the inescapable weight of loneliness, these subtly interconnected stories reveal the momentary solace found in small rituals and everyday kindnesses.
Melissa Manning Author Smokehouse (2022 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Fiction)
BUY A SIGNED COPY HERE
Mistress of Mirth's COMEDY TOUR
An adaptation of my MA by reasearch in creative writing.
A good joke will make you laugh,
an excellent joke will make you think and laugh...
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COMEDY COURSES FOR KIDS & ADULTS IN SCHOOLS WORKPLACES AND LIBRARIES
COMEDIAN
MC
PRODUCER
'Razor Sharp Wit' Herald Sun
'Sparkling Comedy' Jewish News
'Sless is in Her Element' Arts Hub
I have toured nationally and internationally, hosted conferences and events, taught comedy workshops and classes.
Co host of IGTV show Sless to Harsel.
YOU TUBES TO ENJOY
JUSTINE SLESS YOU TUBE CHANNEL
JEWISH MUSLIM COMEDY DEBATE
MELBOURNE JEWISH COMEDY FESTIVAL
As MC Justine's humour, sense of fun and warmth took the 2019 VCTA conference to a whole new level! CEO VCTA
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BOOKS AND WRITING
Justine has an MA by research in creative writing.
Measured Silk & Other Stories
Launching 2023
A short story cycle about loneliness...
Mistress of Mirth's COMEDY TOUR
ORDER A COPY HERE
Your Guide Justine Sless
Published by Australian Scholarly Publishing April 2022
Semi-autobiographical, intellectually compelling and frightfully funny.
Welcome to the COMEDY Tour;
Starting in Bourke Mall, Melbourne, the joke sequence inaugurates in a department store, segues into the homewares section and delivers the ultimate punchline at a live stand-up comedy room.
Intertwined with short stories and comedy fun facts this is the ultimate expedition into the quagmire of invective that has been directed at funny women for a millennium.
Fress with Sless
12 recipes & 12 quirky illustrations
These are some of my favourite recipes for you to savour. They come from years working as a chef, time spent at the kitchen bench raising my kids and meals made and shared with family and friends for Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashana and Passover.
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BLOG
Excuse me there are crumbs in my comedy
Shortlist Mansfield Readers and Writers Festival 2023
Winner Grace Marion Wilson Prize for Fiction in 2016.
'Tempest: An Anthology’(Patrician Press)
The Journal of Working Class Studies,
Glimmer Press anthology in 2020.
I have written numerous one woman shows and tailored comedy for a vast range of audiences, toured comedy and story-telling nationally and internationally.
‘With her unique, darkly comic voice Justine’s stories deliver an alluring combination of wit, bite and insight.’ Angela Savage CEO LibrariesVictoria
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Community CONNECTIONS
I've worked for twenty plus years in corporate, non-profits, education, local government and the arts - delivering festivals events, social enterprise programs and volunteer opportunities.
I have expertise in community engagement, project management, staff and volunteer recruitment and high level skills in relationship and stakeholder engagement. As in Tomatoes and Other Stakeholders.
I was the founder and creative director of the Melbourne Jewish Comedy Festival.
I am a Professional Listener - with training in telephone counselling, I support people as a Divorce and Birthday Doula - for those times when you need to kvetch and kvell.
I HOLD SPACE FOR YOU
Justine Sless is the James Bond of Community Workers !
Andrew Gilles MP Member for Scullen
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CLIENTS& reviewS
Reviews
'Sheer Comedy Panache.' MICF 2022
Arts Hub
'Such a high quality workshop - the kids loved it.'
Hobson's Bay Library - Comedy Crash Course for Kids
Recent Clients
'Sless is dry as a martini, yet her warmth radiates out and captivates the audience.' MICF
