MARK RYAN The Beautiful Bogan - A Story of Hope

Next date: Saturday, 12 April 2025 | 06:00 PM to 08:00 PM

Come along to a one-of-a-kind comedy show, as Marc Ryan, known as the Beautiful Bogan, shares his experiences of post-traumatic stress disorder and living with thoughts of suicide to help normalise conversations about mental health. There will be lots of jokes, laughter, stories and above all, hope shared. 

With over 12 years of experience in comedy, Marc has dedicated the past four years to addressing the often-taboo subject of mental health, drawing from his own struggles with PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation stemming from childhood trauma.

Marc’s journey took a significant turn in 2018 when a workplace incident resurfaced buried memories of childhood abuse, plunging him back into a dark chapter of his life. Rather than succumbing to despair, he chose to share his experiences, recognizing that we all face our own “lemons” at various points in life. His performances blend humour with heartfelt stories, aiming to make the conversation about mental health more accessible and relatable.“

Living with mental illness for over 27 years has shaped my life,” Marc explains. “I’ve navigated marriage, fatherhood, and fostering children while battling internal struggles It’s time we remove the veil of shame and have real conversations about mental health. The truth is, when I snapped at my six-year-old for something as trivial as too much butter on toast, it wasn’t the butter that was the problem—it was everything else happening inside my head.”

With alarming statistics indicating that seven men and two women take their own lives every day in Australia, Marc believes that humour can be a powerful tool in breaking down barriers and fostering understanding. His goal is to encourage others to seek help and to remind them they are not alone in their struggles.

Marc has taken his message far and wide, performing at numerous venues and events, including a self-produced 14-venue Adelaide Fringe tour covering over 2,500 kilometers across South Australia. He has collaborated with various organisations, such as Global Engineering, SANTOS, and the Zara Foundation, and featured in the ABC show “You Can’t Ask That?” on the Bogans episode.

“By sharing my story and creating a space for open dialogue, I hope to help others understand that mental health is a shared experience,” he says. “We need to talk about the tough stuff because it’s real, and it affects us all.”

Marc Ryan stands as a beacon of hope, proving that laughter can coexist with pain and that sharing our stories can pave the way for healing.

 

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