An annual event, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival literally takes over Australia's comedy capital, Melbourne, each autumn with an enormous program of stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performance, film, television, radio and visual arts.
Celebrating its 31st year in 2016, Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the three largest comedy festivals in the world, alongside Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival.Some stand outs here:
ASIA | Comedy Zone | 30 March-23 April | Tue-Sat 8.15pm, Sun 7.15pm
India's Neeti Palta and Sumit Anand, Malaysia's Douglas Lim and Rizal Van Geyzel and Singapore's Jinx Yeo@ Melbourne Town Hall
SQUEAKY | Clean Comedy | 1, 7, 8 April | 7.30-9.30pm
Australia's premier clean comedy gala returns, laugh yourself hoarse while helping raise awareness of the work of World Vision overseas.
@ Melbourne City Conference Centre
RACY | It Don't Matter if You're Black or Wog | 2, 9 March and 16, 23 April | 9-10.20pm
Former LA Comedian, new Aussie Ashley Fils-Aime teams up woth local veteran Gabriel Rossi for a light-hearted look at being ethnic and how it really doesn't matter what your background is or where you're from.
@ Comic's Lounge
SASSY | Ruby Wax is Frazzled | Thurs 30 March-Sat 2 April | Thurs-Sat 7-8.20pm, Sun 6-7.20pm
Drop dead gorgeous, sassy and smart, Ruby Wax brings her new one-woman show to the stage, based on her best seller A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled. Once crazy, now less so, she gives a tour of the mind - how to use it, not lose it.
@ Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne
HAPPIEST | Refugee Live | Wednesday 5 April | 8-9.30pm
By popular demand Anh Do returns with his hit show based on his best selling book The Happiest Refugee. Laugh and cry through this stand-up retelling of real life stories, photos and filmed pieces.
@ Regent Theatre
DEADLY | Funny: Cheeky, loud, black and proud | Saturday 8 April | 4.30pm
Original and Torres Strait Islander Comedy Competition, National Final & ShowcaseHosted by Sean Choolburra, Shiralee Hood, Kevin Kropinyeri and Andy Saunders.
Featuring a performance by last year's winner Jalen Sutcliffe.
@ Arts Centre Melbourne
JEEZ | Louise Address: Women in Comedy | Sunday 9 April | 4-4.55pm
The questions are always asked. Based on anonymous answers form industry and audiences, Cal Wilson discusses whether gender makes a difference... from the perspective of those watching, programming and performing comedy.@ Melbourne Town Hall
BENEFIT | Bold as Brass: An Asylum Seeker Resource Centre | Sunday 9 April | 7-9.30pm
Paying tribute to Split Enz, a frenzy of comedy and music superstars. MC Geraldine Quinn with all proceeds going to ASRC.@ The Toff in Town
BENEFIT | Stand up for Mehdi | Monday 10 April | 8.20-9.30pm
Mehdi dared to tell some jokes. Those jokes put his life in danger. So he escaped. To find himself on Manus Island. In this extraordinary event, a stellar line-up of the best comedians at the Festival come together in solidarity with Mehdi and victims of Australia's detention policies. MC Tom Ballard with all proceeds going to the Human Rights Law Centre.@ Melbourne Town Hall
...and much, much more.
Booking: Online through Ticketmaster or Tel 1300 660 013MORE:
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
240 Exhibition Street (above Comedy Theatre), Melbourne Victoria 3000
Tel: 03 9245 3700 (administration office, you cannot buy tickets via this number)
Email: info@comedyfestival.com.au (General enquiries)
Website: comedyfestival.com.au