The lauded Melbourne International Comedy Festival is upon us once again, and the 2018 lineup is brimming with incredible talent across a huge selection of programs. Showcasing female, indigenous, international and up and coming comedians, this year’s MICF is not to be missed. Whether you’re down to check out some intercontinental heavyweights at Comedy Zone Asia and Indian Comedy Showcase or you’re keen to see a battle of the wits at Raw Comedy, there’ll be laughs to be had no matter where you end up.
Comedy Up Late
Comedy Up Late brings five special performances to Festival Club, each set to be recorded for ABC Comedy. Witness the full force of the punchlines firsthand by taking part in the live studio audience as some of comedy’s breakthrough acts take over the stage. Comedy Up Late has seen performances from the likes of Michael Che, Josh Thomas, Trevor Noah, Urzila Carlson, Aunty Donna and Anne Edmonds so the bar is set pretty high. Comedy Up Late will be happening on Saturday March 31, with double shows going down on Monday April 9 and 16 at Max Watt’s.
Comedy Zone Asia
Returning for its fourth year, Comedy Zone Asia is not only back but it is bigger than ever. Melding culture and comedy for a gut-busting program full of laughs, Comedy Zone Asia is making its mark. This year, catch India’s Azeem Banatwalla as he showcases his style of intellectual humour, the youngest Hong Kong International Comedy Competition winner Hannan Azlan, Maylasian comedy heavyweight Prakash Daniel and Takashi Waka as he brings the laughs through firsthand experiences of life in Japan and Australia. It’s all happening at the Chinese Museum’s Silk Room from Tuesday to Sunday from Thursday March 29 until Sunday April 22.
The Gala
Combining comedy and charity and proving that laughter really is the best cure, The Gala will bring the laughs once again whilst supporting Oxfam’s fight against poverty. The Gala is to MICF what the Opening Ceremony is to The Olympics, kicking off the festival with a mammoth night of theatrics – brimming with laughs courtesy of some of the hottest local and international acts featured throughout the festival. The Gala will take over The Palais Theatre on Wednesday March 21 from 7:30pm, grab a ticket and support a great cause with the added bonus of some cheek-burning cackling to be had.
Deadly Funny
For the twelfth year running, Deadly Funny will be uncovering Australia’s top Indigenous comedy talent. Showcasing the talented array of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island comedians, Deadly Funny is the only program of its kind. Hosted by last year’s Deadly Funny champion Ghena Gela, who will be joined by a slew of special guests who are yet to be announced, the winner will take home a $2000 cash prize and, if past winners Kevin Kropinyeri, Mia Stanford, Jalen Sutcliffe and Shiralee Hood are any indication, kickstart a huge career in comedy. It’s happening at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio on Saturday April 14 from 3pm.
Festival Club
Festival Club will take over Max Watt’s to bring you a huge selection of comedy events as well as some after-party action across MICF. Main events include Don’t You Know Who I Am by Josh Earl on Tuesdays April 3 and 10, Stampdown Comedy Night on Wednesdays April 4 and 11, Rob Hunter Late O’clock on Wednesday April 18, 10 Comedians for 10 Bucks every Thursday from March 29 until April 19, Comedy Bonanza every Friday and Saturday and Haus PartyI on Sundays April 1-15. From 12:30am get your entertainment fix with Lip Sync Battles and Gerald Quinn’s Spandex Ballet.
Indian Comedy Showcase
Coming in hot on the tails of the Bengaluru Comedy Festival, the Indian Comedy Showcase is set to raise the roof as some of the biggest voices in the Indian comedy scene make their MICF appearance. Join international stand-up superstar, YouTube icon and author Sorabh Pant, the brains behind Netflix’s Things They Wouldn’t Let Me Say Aditi Mattal, Amazon Prime special Cometh The Hour creator Azeem Banatwalla and multiple comedy competition winner Rahul Subramanian for an unbeatable lineup of laughs. It’s happening upstairs at the Forum Theatre from Friday April 20-22.
Granny Bingo Comedy Night
As part of this year’s Festival Club, Granny Bingo Comedy Night is bringing you a fast and loose game of bingo with a side of laughs that is guaranteed to be unlike anything you’ve ever seen on your Sunday visits with your Gran. Hosted by 2017 Golden Gibbo winners Edith Vale, Maureen McGillicuddy and Caroline Springs, the old gals will show you a good time. There’ll be bingo balls flying, special guests aplenty and loads of prizes to be won when Granny Bingo Comedy Night takes over Max Watt’s. It’s happening at 11:30pm on Tuesday April 17.
Raw Comedy National Grand Final
Australia’s biggest comedy competition Raw Comedy National Grand Final pits the nation’s top emerging comedians against each other in a bid for a spot in the acclaimed Edinburgh Festival Fringe. After fighting their way through heats and semi-finals the only thing bigger than the stakes will be the laughs. The top contender will join a long list of greats who have also won the Raw Comedy title, including Hannah Gadsby, Josh Thomas, Tom Ballard and Claire Hooper. Hosted by Venezuelan born national treasure Ivan Aristeguieta, this year’s Raw Comedy is going down at Melbourne Town Hall’s Main Hall on Sunday April 15 from 5pm.
Upfront
Squashing that age old myth that women aren’t funny, Upfront brings Australia’s top home-grown comedy queens centre stage, where nothing is off bounds. Bringing razor sharp wit, often with a side of grit, this all-female lineup will induce some side-splitting laughs whilst tearing down female stereotypes in the best possible way. With past Upfront ladies like Cal Wilson, Hannah Gadsby, Susie Youssef leading the evening, 2018’s Upfront program is set to be massive so be sure to keep your ears peeled for the announcement. Upfront is happening at Melbourne Town Hall’s Main Hall on Wednesday April 18 from 7:30pm.
Good As Friday
Hosted by triple j’s Morning show men Ben and Liam, Good As Friday brings a massive day of laughs from across the festival, sprinkled with a whole heap of tunes. The huge Easter show is always a smash hit and whether you want to catch it in the flesh by popping down to Melbourne’s Town Hall or you plan on kicking back on the glorious public holiday and tuning in, Good As Friday is worth getting around. It’s going down from 1pm on Friday March 30 – make sure you get down nice and early to secure a seat.
