Reuben Kaye

Reuben Kaye is an internationally renowned award-winning comedian, cabaret host, singer, and writer.

He has held residencies in Berlin and Stockholm and, his most recent, in London’s Southbank Centre. His current show, Apocalipstik, won the Perth Now Critics Choice Award at Fringe World shortly after its debut, and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival Icon Award. Reuben is set to return to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2024 with the UK debut of Live & Intimidating, after performing critically acclaimed shows across Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In 2023, his comedy cabaret show, The Butch Is Back, was nominated for NextUp’s Biggest Award in Comedy and he was placed second on the British Comedy Guide’s list of highest reviewed shows of the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe. He received 19 5* reviews. In 2022, Butch is Back won three Green Room Awards: for Best Cabaret Artist, Best Production and Best Musical Direction. In 2021, both Perth Fringe World and the Adelaide Fringe awarded Reuben their Best Cabaret award, and Melbourne Comedy Festival nominated him for the Most Outstanding Show award. Alongside his solo shows, Reuben is the host of the renowned, sellout show The Kaye Hole, which won Best Cabaret Variety and Line Up Show, FringeWorld 2021. 

Reuben made his TV debut in Australia, performing twice on ABC Australia’s Melbourne Comedy Fest, as a guest on SBS Australia’s Celebrity Letters & Numbers, and on ABC Australia’s Spicks and Specks. Reuben has also appeared on UK television shows including BBC’s The Apprentice: You’re Fired, Pointless Celebrities, Dave’s Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, Channel 4’s Kids React to Drag (which received 20 million views in one day) and given a lauded keynote at TEDxCurrumbin titled When Your Child Comes Out.

As well as TV, Reuben has guested on podcasts, such as Trusty Hogs, Sloss and Humphries On The Road, Transplaining with Jordan Gray and Hoovering with Jessica Fostekew. He also hosts his own podcast, Come to Daddy, with guests including Maisie Adam, Larry Dean, Rosie Jones and Daniel Sloss.

Awards

Nominee: Green Room Award – Outstanding Artiste 2025

Nominee: Green Room Award – Outstanding Original Songs 2025

Nominee: Green Room Award – Outstanding Production 2025

Nominee: Green Room Award – Outstanding Production Design 2025

Nominee: Green Room Award – Outstanding Writing 2025

Nominee: Green Room Award – Outstanding Musical Direction 2025

Nominee: Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Comedy Show 2024

Winner: Green Room Award – Best Cabaret Artist 2022

Winner: Green Room Award – Best Production 2022

Winner: Green Room Award – Best Musical Direction 2022

Nominee: Melbourne Comedy Festival – Most Outstanding Show 2021

Winner: Fringeworld Perth – Best Cabaret and Variety Show 2021

Winner: Adelaide Fringe – Best Cabaret 2021

Winner: Green Room Award – Best Production 2019

Winner: Adelaide Fringe – Best Cabaret Performance 2017

TV

• Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable (Guest, Dave, 2024)
• Pointless Celebrities (Guest, BBC1, 2023)
• The Apprentice: You’re Fired (Guest, BBC2, 2019 & 2023)
• Melbourne Comedy Festival Allstars Supershow (Performer, ABC, ABC iView & Channel 10 Australia, 2023)
• Spicks & Specks (Guest, ABC & ABC iView Australia, 2022)
• Celebrity Letters & Numbers (Guest, SBS Australia, 2021)
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala (Performer, ABC, ABC iView & Channel 10 Australia, 2021)

Radio & Podcasts

• Come to Daddy Podcast (Host, Acast, 2023-Present)
• Hoovering with Jessica Fostekew (Guest, Acast, 2023)
• Transplaining with Jordan Gray (Guest, Off Script, 2023)
• Confessions (Guest, 2022-2023)
• Sloss and Humphries On The Road (Guest, 2023)
• My Seven Wonders with Clive Anderson (Guest, Stak, 2023)
• Trusty Hogs (Guest, Comedy Kerfuffle, 2023)
• Thank F*ck For That with Sarah Keyworth & Micky Overman (Guest, 2023)
• Pop Queers (Guest, 2022-2023)
• Emsolation (Guest, 2022)

Digital

• When Your Child Comes Out TEDx (Speaker, TEDx, 2022)
• Kids React to Drag (Host, Channel 4, 2019)

Live

• The Party’s Over (2025 -)
• The Kaye Hole (2019 -)
• Apocalipstik (2024)
• Live & Intimidating (2022 – 2024)
• The Butch is Back (2021 – 2023)
• Reuben Kaye (2019)
• Success Story (2017)

A blistering and empowering exploration of gender and masculinity.
Time Out ★★★★★

‘Butch Is Back’ is one of the most exquisite cabarets that’s touring the globe.
Theatre Scotland ★★★★★

A star in their own right, with razor-sharp comedic material, a glamourous look and a killer voice to boot, Kaye has it all.
The Skinny ★★★★★

His big voice was only ousted by his bigger wit.
Glam Adelaide ★★★★★

This is simple: Reuben Kaye is the best live performer I have ever seen.
Lisa in the Theatre ★★★★★

Full of glitz, sparkles and incredibly quick retorts, Kaye holds the audience in the palm of his hand.
Brig News ★★★★★

Reuben Kaye is undeniably a once-in-a-generation star.
Corr Blimey ★★★★★

It’s a comedic assault on the senses in the best way imaginable.
Culture Fix ★★★★★

Reuben Kaye is mesmerising.
Broadway Baby ★★★★★

I’ve never seen someone perform with such intensity all while in 6-inch heels.
Neurodiverse Review ★★★★★

‘Butch Is Back’ makes for a damn near perfect example of the art of cabaret.
The Reviews Hub ★★★★★

Bitchy, glitzy, ballsy, glamorous and fiery, Butch is Back is hard to ignore.
Lou Reviews ★★★★★

His golden voice, sassy moves and ability to riff off a crowd are eminent from the off.
Broadway World ★★★★★

Butch is Back is beautifully queer, and bloody outrageous. Much like past trauma, this is a show you won’t ever forget, and Kaye truly proves that laughter is the best medicine.
Lost in Theatreland ★★★★★

With the melodic sweetness of a nightingale and the strength of a honey badger, Kaye delights in bringing his whirlwind of energy into a high octane, irreverent and fantastically over the top drag comedy cabaret.
Theatre & Tonic ★★★★★

All That Dazzles ★★★★★

There is no better way to end a festival night.
Chortle ★★★★★

‘Kaye Hole’ is a variety extravaganza.
Theatre Scotland ★★★★★

‘Kaye Hole’ is A. Great. Night. Out..
The Upside News ★★★★★

‘Kaye Hole’ is an inclusive, jam-packed jamoree of both playful and impactful cabaret acts.
The Skinny ★★★★★

Sign up to the Church of Reuben Kaye.
Time Out Melbourne ★★★★★

‘Kaye Hole’ is a celebration of art, acceptance and self-expression.
Broadway Baby ★★★★★

The Kaye Hole is a safe space for the marginalised and an education for the others.
The AU Review ★★★★★

Go and experience Reuben Kaye if you need some cathartic release.
Out In Perth ★★★★★

The Kaye Hole refused to play things safe yet never missed with its punches.
The Student ★★★★★

An Icon.
EdFest Magazine ★★★★★

‘Kaye Hole’ is a night you won’t forget.
Deadline News ★★★★★

‘Kaye Hole’ is a hilarious, outrageous and bloody fabulous, a must see.
Adelaide Advertiser ★★★★★

Outstanding, Unique, Gob-smacking, Phenomenal, Extraordinary!
Stage Whispers ★★★★★

This is what late-night Fringe shows should be – full of wicked humour.
Scottish Woman Magazine ★★★★★

Kaye dazzles with showbiz flair with an explosion of sequins and lashes!
Scottish Sun ★★★★★

A night out at Reuben Kaye’s ‘The Kaye Hole’ is a night that will never be forgotten.
The Wee Review ★★★★★

‘Kaye Hole’ is a tremendous night of outstanding queer entertainment!
The Spy in the Stalls ★★★★★

‘Kaye Hole’ is an uplifting experience of the type which is so rare to find in these times.
Brig Newspaper ★★★★★

‘Kaye Hole’ is one of the best shows on at the fringe, and always worth the late bedtimes.
Lost in Theatreland ★★★★★

Kaye is an incredible performer.
Broadway World ★★★★★

The Cabaret King.
Jenna’s Jamboree ★★★★★

His ability to take any moment — whether tragic, scary or surprising — and turn it into joke fodder is unrivalled.
The Wee Review ★★★★★

The one-liners hit every time.
Fringe Review ★★★★★

He has some of the best comedic timing you’ll ever see, accompanied by perfect facial expressions that make the audience erupt in raucous laughter.
Entertainment Now ★★★★★

A new comedy star rose in the extraordinary Reuben Kaye…You can’t take your eyes off him: he’s beautiful, hilarious, knowing, wicked.
The Times

‘The Kaye Hole’ is a must-see at this year’s Fringe. Reuben Kaye proves once again that he is one of the biggest and best acts in Edinburgh this August, adding some of the biggest and boldest acts of the Fringe into the mix makes it simply sublime.
Theatre Scotland ★★★★★

The evil love child of Liza Minnelli and Jim Carrey.
British Theatre Guide

Reuben Kaye is a cabaret God!
Broadway Baby