By Helen Musa

Some of Canberra’s funniest actors, comedians and musical theatre performers are coming together for the second instalment of the revue Multiple Skit-osis, this year titled Multiple Skit-osis – The Relapse.

While the word “relapse” has unfunny connotations for people living with MS, the show is designed first and foremost to make audiences laugh. However, behind the comedy is a serious purpose, raising awareness and funds for people living with multiple sclerosis.

For 13-year-old Rosie Welling, a Year 7 student at Radford College and the brains behind the revue, the cause is particularly personal. Her mother Kath lives with MS and Rosie’s aim is to help people understand what it is like to live with MS and ensure those affected know there is a community behind them.

Canberra’s theatre community has rallied strongly around the cause, with producer and playwright Kirsty Budding providing support and much of the script for last year’s show, while in 2026, Karen Vickery and Jarrad West have found room for the revue in ACT Hub’s busy schedule.

Several performers are returning, alongside new additions from Canberra’s stand-up comedy, acting and musical theatre scenes. Rosie’s only brief to the performers has been: “keep it under five minutes and make it happy and funny.”

The formula seemed to work last year, with audiences responding with laughter and applause, and the response to this year’s call-out has been equally encouraging.

Rosie says she is grateful for all the support that Canberra’s theatre community has provided in giving up their time to be part of her show.

Her commitment to raising awareness and funds for people living with MS has also been recognised through a nomination for an Order of Australia Student Citizenship Award; she will find out later this year whether she has been successful.

At the heart of Multiple Skit-osis – The Relapse is the simple idea that laughter can bring people together. Twenty performers are giving their time, the theatre community is getting behind them and audiences will be supporting the cause by turning up.

Multiple Skit-osis – The Relapse, September 12, ACT Hub, Causeway Hall, Kingston. Bookings acthub.com.au

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