When I was 11 years old, I saved my pocket money for months, and my patience was rewarded with a PlayStation. The wait was well worth it. Seeing Nick Robertson back in Dunedin engenders similar feelings for me.

His latest hour, Everything That Happened at Number 68, is a delightful, whimsical, and deeply personal exploration of the transient lives that pass through shared flats. It features an eccentric cast of flatmates and friends who he has lived with.

Before the performance starts, Nick is already making us feel welcome, offering cups of tea and blankets. He creates a space that feels more like a cozy home share than a basement theatre. There’s a disarming warmth to it all, an unspoken promise that you’re in safe hands. Nick has either lost his microphone, or is making an earnest effort to strip away the artifice of traditional stand-up in favor of something more intimate and reflective. It’s clear he isn’t striving to be a stadium comedian. The perfect venue for Nick would probably be a forest clearing, gathered around a campfire with old friends.

Nick makes it clear from the outset that he is first and foremost a storyteller; being funny is extra. But rest assured, the jokes are sharp and irreverent. Nick balances his bubbling, anxious energy with rapid-fire wit, almost as though firing off punchlines is what keeps his mind steady.

He has left this house behind, but the show reveals that some part of him remains there. Whispers woven into the walls. As he speaks, memories of my own time flatting in Dunedin revisit me. I feel a deep sense of sonder, an awareness of the countless untold stories that have passed through these spaces. Stories, unique to each house, unique to each person, stories we can never fully know, and yet stories of a similar nature which many of us share.

Perhaps the greatest strength of Everything That Happened at Number 68 is its sincerity. Despite the whimsy, despite the elaborate wordplay and offbeat tangents, you never doubt Nick’s honesty. Usually, when a comedian is described as a fearless truth preacher, it means they’re unbothered by offending people. When I say Nick is fearless, I mean he risks acceptance of himself with the audience.

If there’s any criticism to be had, it’s that some of his jokes would be inaccessible to certain audiences. Many people looking for a “night out” wouldn’t appreciate references to John Green or jokes about Earl Grey tea. Nick knows this. During the preamble, he noted that our “polite nodding” was characteristic of his audience.

Nick Robertson’s show is an evocative, lyrical, and deeply human piece of storytelling. It makes you laugh, makes you think, and makes you remember. If you have ever shared a house with strangers who became friends or are in the mood to hear some truly fascinating anecdotes, you’ll find something to love in Everything That Happened at Number 68.

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Nick Robertson’s Everything That Happened at Number 68 is a heartfelt and nostalgic ode to shared living spaces and the quirky characters who inhabit them.

From the moment the audience enters, Nick sets the tone by transforming the space (The Studio at BATS) into a warm, inviting flat. He greets us with pillows, blankets, cups of tea and even biscuits, making us feel like cherished guests in his home. This thoughtful gesture not only breaks the ice but also cleverly mirrors the show’s central theme: people are what make a space a home. It’s a charming and effective way to draw the audience into his world.

Nick describes himself as a storyteller, admitting he’ll call himself a comedian if he makes us laugh. Nick is a natural comedian, effortlessly blending wit, vulnerability and impeccable timing. The audience responds with genuine laughter, punctuated by collective groans at his well-crafted puns. His ability to balance humour with poignant moments is a testament to his skill as both a storyteller and a performer.

Nick’s story takes us on a journey through his first flat, a meandering rollercoaster over the highs, lows and personalities who make a house a home. A bunny, a loveable himbo, two inseparable best friends, a classic bloke, an elderly landlord and a vegan yogi all manage to weave their way into the tale of Everything That Happened at Number 68. Each character feels real and familiar, as if they’ve stepped out of our own memories. Nick’s ability to paint such vivid pictures with his words and clever use of props is a testament to his talent.

What makes the show truly special is how it plays with the audience’s expectations. Nick leads us to fill in the gaps with our own assumptions and experiences, only to gently reveal the deeper truths behind each story. He reminds us that there are no real villains in these tales — just flawed, relatable people trying to navigate life. (Well, maybe the landlord is a bit of an exception.)

The show’s relatability is its greatest strength. As I watch, I find myself reflecting on my own flatmates, past and present, and the unique dynamics that define shared living. It’s fitting that I attended the show with my current flatmate. On the way home, we reminisce about our own adventures and misadventures in flats gone by. Nick’s storytelling has a way of sparking those conversations, making the show not just a performance but a shared experience.

Nick Robertson’s poignant storytelling blends humour, heart and a touch of vulnerability. It’s a poignant reminder that we’re all characters in someone else’s story, shaping each other’s lives in ways we may never fully realize.

This show will leave you with a renewed appreciation for the messy, beautiful connections that make life so rich.

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