Where do you go to see the biggest acts at Melbourne International Comedy Festival unleashed, delivering their best sets for an intimate audience?
That would be Morris House and its Basement Comedy Club – the closest you can possibly come to New York City’s iconic Comedy Cellar without leaving NYC itself.
Framed against a brick wall and preaching to a semi-circle of seasoned comedy patrons, the best acts at this year’s Comedy Festival will appear each and every night throughout the festival, from March 27 – April 21.
Morris House’s Comedy Festival shows
- Morris House Upstairs and Basement Comedy Club, 120 Exhibition Street
- Check out their headline shows here and Basement series here
Explore Melbourne’s latest arts and stage news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The name of the game is the very-apt Best of Melbourne Comedy series. Morris House (formerly European Bier Cafe before some very swanky renos) has a long-standing reputation as one of the best comedy clubs in Australia and it will attract big games virtually each and every night. In previous years, guests have included Sam Pang, Tom Gleeson, Akmal, Dave Hughes, Arj Barker, Luke McGregor, Peter Helliar, Celia Pacquola, Kitty Flanagan, Urzila Carlson, Rove McManus and more! Generally it’s five-six comedians who do 10–15 minute sets of all killer, no filler. Needless to say, it goes off.
They’re happy to keep their cards close to their chest to allow big-name acts to come and take risks to intimate crowds, but if you need a taste-tester of what to expect, three of Australasia’s finest: Dave Hughes, Melanie Bracewell and Luke Heggie are confirmed to play at the venue over over the festival period. It won’t just be the Basement Comedy Club hosting sets, with the venue’s sublime upstairs rooms also set to get in on the action.
Dave Hughes
Everyone knows Hughesy, even recognisable in his modern hipster era. He kills when he plays intimate venues like these as he found out in a recent stint in Los Angeles, when the US crowds took to him like white on rice.
Hughes initially ventured into comedy as a hobby while working as a bricklayer and trillions of dollars later, his unpretentious demeanour and his ability to find humour in the mundane aspects of life still shines through. He remains true to his roots, drawing inspiration from his working-class background and experiences. This authenticity resonates with audiences from all walks of life, making him one of Australia’s most beloved comedians.
Hughes’ rise to fame came through various platforms, including stand-up comedy, television, and radio. He gained widespread recognition as a regular on comedy panel shows like The Project and Hughesy, We Have a Problem. Additionally, his radio show Hughesy & Kate garnered a loyal following, further solidifying his status as a household name.
Melanie Bracewell
Melanie Bracewell, a rising star in the comedy world, hails from New Zealand but has quickly made a name for herself across the Tasman Sea in Australia. You may have seen her on her hit show, The Cheap Seats, or embarrass herself on Taskmaster NZ. Now is your chance to see her live as she brings her brand-new stand-up show to Melbourne, Attack of the Melanie Bracewell.
Beyond her comedic pursuits, Bracewell is also known for her versatility, having ventured into writing and acting. Her creativity knows no bounds, and she continues to explore new avenues to express her comedic genius. She promises to bring you her signature brand of relatable, goofy and punchline-heavy stand up comedy. She also promises she won’t actually attack you.
Luke Heggie
One of the most sardonic and quintessentially deadpan Australian comedians of all time, whether he’s skewering people failing to check their pump numbers at servos or the “fucking lucky dip” nature of letting your friends slowly become your partner’s friends’ partners…Heggie’s bits may be drawl, but they’ll stick with you forever.
His latest show, Grogan, showcases the tribulations of someone just trying to stay alive until he’s dead, while attempting to remain a man of the people. The people aren’t really honouring their end of the bargain. Besides nothing, the crushing majority of people don’t know anything. In fact, most of them are heading in the right direction for a smack.
Luke Heggie recently discovered that a slip of the tongue is now more commonly known as “his true colours” and that salted caramel was not just a fad. He’d like for these things to be rectified, but stopping short of standing in a major intersection waving around a plank with nails sticking out of it, there is nothing that can be done.
Tickets here.
