Who Is Aunty Donna? The Sketch Comedy Group Behind the Merch

Some comedy is clever. Aunty Donna is clever and also completely ridiculous, and that's why their fans love them. Here's a quick guide to the group behind our merch, for new fans and longtime ones.

Who is Aunty Donna?

Aunty Donna is an Australian surrealist comedy group, formed in Melbourne in 2011. On stage and on screen it's three performers and writers: Mark Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane. Behind them are writer and director Sam Lingham, director Max Miller and composer Thomas Zahariou. The original members met at the University of Ballarat's Arts Academy, where they trained as actors.

Why are they called Aunty Donna?

Nobody really knows, and that's the joke. Over the years the group has given so many different stories about the name that the origin has become a running gag of its own.

Where can I watch them?

Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun arrived on Netflix in November 2020: six episodes with the trio as housemates, one sketch spilling into the next. Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe followed on the ABC in April 2023, set in a Melbourne cafe. Their YouTube channel holds years of sketches and web series, including 1999 and Ripper Aussie Summer.

Do they make music?

Yes, lots of it. The Album, released in April 2018, reached the ARIA chart and was nominated for an ARIA for Best Comedy Release.

Do they tour?

Constantly. Big Boys went from Australia to New Zealand, Edinburgh, London and North America in 2017, and DREM was a world tour in 2025. There's also The Aunty Donna Podcast, running since 2016.

Why wear the merch?

Because a Cowdoy star or a giant PUD. on your chest is the fastest way to find the other fans in the room.

Ready to join the big boys? Shop the Aunty Donna collection.