Melbourne International Comedy Festival's Deadly Funny National Grand Final showcases the best First Nations comedy talent.
Queensland comedian Dhinawan Baker has taken out the 2025 Deadly Funny title at Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s prestigious competition.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Deadly Funny National Grand Final took place with eight finalists from across Australia competing for the coveted comedy crown. First Nations comedy legend Kevin Kropinyeri hosted the event, which also featured special performances from previous winners Tyson Walker, Kalah Lovegrove, Janty Blair and international guest Channel Ali.
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The national finalists represented communities from across the continent, including Dhinawan Baker (Magandjin QLD), Errolyn Strang (Woolyungah NSW), Yindyamarra Johnson (Wagga Wagga NSW), Matthew Bonson (Garramilla NT), Daniel Newchurch (Guuranda SA), Teresa Moore (Naarm VIC), Kimberley Benjamin (Rubibi WA) and Ngaire Pigram (Rubibi WA).
After ninety minutes of fresh comedy that had the packed theatre laughing loudly, Dhinawan Baker emerged victorious, with Yindyamarra Johnson and Errolyn Strang named as runners-up.
As Australia’s only dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander comedy competition, Deadly Funny forms part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s year-round development programs. The competition travels across the continent with workshops and regional showcases, discovering and amplifying voices from First Nations performers and presenting them to the widest possible audience.
Baker now joins an illustrious group of previous Deadly Funny winners who have gone on to establish successful careers in the Australian comedy scene. This includes Kevin Kropinyeri, Steph Tisdell, Andy Saunders, Janty Blair, Ghenoa Gela, Jalen Sutcliffe and Shiralee Hood – all of whom have built impressive performance careers following their Deadly Funny success.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs a suite of development initiatives aimed at nurturing new comedy talent, with Deadly Funny taking its place alongside other programs including RAW Comedy and Class Clowns. These initiatives provide crucial platforms for emerging comedians to develop their skills and gain exposure to wider audiences.
The Deadly Funny National Grand Final represents the culmination of months of development work, regional heats and state finals, bringing together the freshest comedy voices from the oldest culture on earth. By creating this dedicated platform, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival continues its commitment to diversity in Australian comedy while providing pathways for First Nations performers to build sustainable careers in the industry.
The 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs from 26 March to 20 April, featuring hundreds of shows across Melbourne.
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