The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is upon us for another huge year of laughs from both international stars, Australian favourites, and buzzed about newcomers.
Yet again, the festival boasts a record-breaking amount of shows. Long-standing favourites Lano & Woodley will be returning to the stage, while Kitty Flanagan, Rich Hall, Celia Pacquola, John Safran, Matt Okine, Peter Helliar, Rosie Waterland, Urzila Carlson, Fiona O’Loughlin, Stephen K Amos, and Lady Rizo will all be bringing their latest side-splitters to Melbourne audiences.
Further Aussie highlights include Cal Wilson, Anne Edmonds, Nick Cody, Nazeem Hussain, Aunty Donna, Joel Creasey, Sam Simmons, Dave Thornton, Becky Lucas, Rhys Nicholson and Charlie Pickering.
As for the international contingent, heavyweights including David O’Doherty (IRL), James Veitch (UK), Andy Zaltzman (UK), 2017 Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer Natalie Palamides (USA), Tim Key (UK), Fin Taylor (UK), Ari Eldjárn (ICELAND), Phil Wang (UK), Larry Dean (UK), Eleanor Tiernan (IRL), Brennan Reece (UK), Carl Donnelly (UK), Des Bishop (IRL/USA) and heaps more will be taking over the city.
As well as stand-up, over 100 venues including the Melbourne Town Hall, Comedy Theatre, Athenaeum Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Belleville, Cooper’s Inn, Imperial Hotel, The Butterfly Club, the Carlton Club, Trades Hall, Victoria Hotel and The Famous Spiegeltent will come alive with sketch, improv, musical comedy, and film.
Capping it off comes a selection of special events including Comedy Zome Asia and the Indian Allstars Showcase, The (Very) Big Laugh Out, Class Clowns, Raw Comedy, The Gala, Comedy Up Late, Deadly Funny and The Great Debate.
