NERDS: THE BILL GATES VS STEVE JOBS COMEDY MUSICAL - Underbelly, Bristo Square (19/08/25)

New musical about two tech giants is positively madcap

Long before the undoubted renaissance of nerd culture over the past decade or so, we had arguably two of the most prolific tech geniuses in living memory, battling out for the title of global “alpha nerd” by means of sparring personal computer technology. “Nerds The Bill Gates vs. Steve Jobs Comedy Musical”, written by Jordan Allen-Dutton, Erik Weiner and Hal Goldberg, tells of the long and heavily documented rivalry between the two feuding computing magnates, from their initial meeting in Silicon Valley during the 1970s, to the constant career push and pull between the two, and the pair’s eventual reconciliation and collaboration following this considerable degree of contention between the two.

As with a lot of comedy and parody, there is a certain degree of creative license taken with the depiction of the real events that unfurled, such as the various direct exchanges between Gates and Jobs, the lawsuit instigated against Microsoft in the 1980s, and perhaps most farfetched yet thoroughly entertaining of all, the rap battle and subsequent lightsaber battle between the two. This is a show that is perfectly aware of how ridiculous and nutty it is, and commits to this with full conviction from start to finish, and it is rather majestic to behold.

Dan Buckley and the company of Nerds: The Bill Gates vs. Steve Jobs Comedy Musical (credit: Pamela Raith)

Many of the tropes adopted that relate to being a nerd in general we have seen and heard a thousand times, the social awkwardness, the lack of romantic prowess, the distinct absence of athleticism, and perhaps the most poignant and relatable, a penchant for being bullied by one’s peers, something with which, I’m certain, there will have been plenty of people in the audience who could relate on a very real level. This is a comedy however, and the short and long of it is that humour and laughter should be at the heart of what we experience.

Much of the comedic material in this musical stems from both its innate self-awareness, and the use of hyperbole in depicting the characteristics exhibited by the two primary protagonists, and these are used to hilarious effect at times. The score may have been fairly generic sounding, but the way in which the story is presented is delightfully wacky, with an endearing silliness at its very core, and a lot of jokes directly referencing technology closer to the present day that are rather cleverly interwoven into the story.

Kane Oliver Parry and Elise Zavou (credit: Pamela Raith)

Performances by Dan Buckley as Gates and Kane Oliver Parry as Jobs respectively were remarkably exaggerated, from Gates’ awkward and defeatist demeanour, to the cool, suave self assuredness of his closest frenemy, as well as how the pair shift their respective characterisations depending on the fortunes of the individuals being portrayed, and this is all executed magnificently and with superb humour. Another excellent performance was given by Julie Yammanee, who displayed some fantastic multiroling, and elicited a barrel of laughs whenever she was on stage.

In spite of the lack of a distinct musical identity, this musical is brilliant fun and delightfully silly, never taking itself too seriously, which is a major part of its appeal. Hair-brained, madcap and completely outrageous, this undoubted musical geek-fest will have you laughing uproariously and feeling deeply for these characters in equal measure.

★★★★☆

"Nerds The Bill Gates vs. Steve Jobs Comedy Musical” plays until the 25th of August (book)

{PR/Gifted ticket}