MICF UPDATES
Celia Pacquola was set to perform just four shows this festival, but fortunately, due to popular demand, two more dates at the Comedy Theatre have been added to her run You can catch her April 11 and 13 April at 7pm. We’ve seen The Looking Glass and we’re happy to report that Celia is in the best form of her career. With that in mind, you know what to do. Meanwhile, plenty of other artists have added extra shows too. Book ASAP to avoid disappointment.
Danny Bhoy – Friday April 8 and Saturday April 9 April
First Dog On The Moon – Saturday April 16
The Kagools – Saturday April 2
Karen from Finance – Saturday April 9
Kings of Comedy – Tuesday April 5 & 12
Rich Hall – Saturday April 2
Sam Simmons – Saturday April 2
Shirley Gnome – Friday 15, Saturday 16, Sunday 17 April
MICF SELL-OUTS
The following shows are the a few of the hottest tickets in town this festival, having sold out over the past week. Save yourself heartbreak in front of the Melbourne Town Hall chalkboard: study this list and book ahead.
Brianna Williams – Little Mountain Goblin
Chris Wainhouse – The Antichris
Nazeem Hussain – Hussain in the Membrane
Suren Jayemanne – Wu-Tang Clan Name Generator
MICF ENTREES (Early Shows, until 7pm)
Boasting a sell-out run in 2015, Keep Calm It’s British Comedy is back to deliver exceptional lineups on a daily basis. Part of the secret to its success is that it’s pretty much as advertised, presenting the very best stand-up comedy talent from across the UK and Ireland, with some guest international acts thrown in for good measure. To enjoy this early showcase, head down to the Elephant & Wheelbarrow, Tue-Sun 6.15pm.
Cyberspace can be a confusing place at the best of times. For instance, how did you find your way here? Did you Ask Jeeves? What’s a Google, anyway? Now, imagine you’ve just woken up from a 20-year coma and you’ve had to relearn how to, you know, internet. Comedians Kimberley Lisle, Scott Same & Tessa Ryan explore this quirky hypothetical through a series of silly, colourful and lively skits. DotComedy has the potential to be a ton of fun. Find out for yourself at The Downstairs Lounge, at the Grand Mercure Hotel, Tue-Sun 6.30pm.
MICF MAIN MEALS (Prime Time, 7pm-10pm)
As far as cabaret is concerned, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has a clear front-runner in Bridget Everett’s exhilarating spectacle, Pound It. You might already know Everett from Inside Amy Schumer, Two Broke Girls and Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, but you would have never seen her like this. The overtly-sexual, classically-opera-trained star has been scoring rave reviews, presenting an ‘in your face’ experience you’re not likely to forget anytime soon. The word audacious seems fitting, yet barely describes Everett’s act. Dirty? Check. Uncomfortable? Certainly. Hilarious? You bet. Everett is only here until April 3, so expect to find it extremely difficult to score tickets. That is, unless, you act now. Everett is appearing at Max Watt’s, Tue-Sat 9.45pm and Sun 8.45pm.
Charlie Pickering – How To Tame A Wild Squirrel
You’ve seen him on such TV shows as The Project and The Weekly, but we have it on good authority that Charlie Pickering is much better in real life compared to full HD. Don’t believe us? You can make your own mind up when Pickering brings his brand of intelligent stand-up to The Comedy Theatre this festival. You’d better act now though: he’s there for three nights only (7pm, March 31, April 7 and 14) Not only that, this is Pickering’s first solo stand up show since 2012. It’s going to be popular, so get in now.
Loveable music comedy nerds Tripod have reached an amazing milestone, celebrating 20 years together. To mark the occasion, Scod, Yon and Gatesy are staging a greatest-hits-type show with a twist. Picture this: an old-school bingo cage, filled with a bunch of ping pong balls, each tagged with numbers corresponding to tunes in Tripod’s recently-published songbook 101 Hits. Got it? Excellent. The acclaimed trio will leave their set list to chance each night at The Famous Spiegeltent, potentially treating audiences to everything from acapella jams to perfectly good obscurities. Join Tripod on their randomised tour of memory lane and celebrate one of the best and most enduring musical comedy acts in Australia.
Ronny Chieng – You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About
Ronny Chieng returns to Australia an all-conquering hero, relishing his role as correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. He’s back for two special encore performances of his sell out stand-up comedy show You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About. It was a hit in 2015 and, given this will almost certainly be your final chance to see the show, we recommend you act fast. Catch Ronny at the Melbourne Town Hall, Thursday March 31 and Friday April 1.
MICF DESSERTS (Late Shows, 10pm onwards)
WATSON: The Life Education Van For Adults
Remember Harold the Giraffe, the icon that single-handedly empowered children and young people to make safer and healthier choices through education? Comedy troupe WATSON do, and they’re here to mine The Life Education Van for comedy gold. You’d know the award-winning sketch group from their season of sell-out spectacle, Who’s Afraid of the Dark?. They’re the first to admit this new show is a drastic change of pace, but one thing’s for sure: it will be every bit as fun. Join Tegan Higginbotham, Adam McKenzie and Liam Ryan as they present very own guide to being a fully functional adult, Thu-Sat 10.45pm at the Melbourne Town Hall (as well as Mondays 7:45pm).
Grant Busé – The Late Night Sexy Show
Shaggy-haired comic Grant Busé is staging a saucy late-night affair best described as a cross between Tim Minchin and Magic Mike. Busé is a musical comedian, singer, actor, dancer, and puppeteer and hopes to wow the pants off you (note: it’s called the ‘Late Night Sexy Show’, so that may well occur). Get along to the Downstairs Lounge at the Grand Mercure Hotel and treat yourself to such songs as Undress Me, Car Sex and The Spots That Make You O, Tue-Sun 10pm.
MICF SPECIALS (One-Offs and Discounts)
Tonight at The Festival Club, a bunch of the festival’s best comedians will be performing live for an ABC1 television special, Comedy Up Late. This evening’s line-up features MC Rhys Nicholson, Amos Gill, Sarah Tiana (USA), Geraldine Hickey, Steen & Susie, Andrew McClelland, Shiralee Hood, Gordon Southern (UK) and Lawrence Mooney.
