The 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival is now in full swing with the second weekend almost upon us.
If you’ve spent even a few minutes on the MICF site, you’d know there’s a fair chunk of shows to sort through, so we’re breaking it down, and today it’s time to get a bit experimental and see some shows that are weird yet totally wonderful.
Damo and Mick’s Backyard Quiz
Good mates Damo and Mick are bringing their backyard banter to the MICF stage this weekend. It’s an all-Australian quiz show, which has been described as if Spicks and Specks and QI had dumber questions and happened at a BBQ. They’ll be joined alongside a selection of our best up-and-coming comedians for what is sure to be a night you’ll never forget. It’ll be going down at Theory Bar Melbourne late at night on Saturday and Sunday. As an added bonus, this Saturday’s show will be filmed, so it’s sure to be an extra special performance to head to.
Dice Paper Role
If you’re a fan of Dungeons and Dragons, look no further than this show happening at the Chinese Museum across all the weekends this April. It’ll go for around 2 hours and will involve the Dice Paper Role team playing the popular game with a comedian from the festival. This weekend, you’ll be able to catch popular comedians Nick Mason on April 8 and Rosie Jones on April 9, taking place at 3:45pm and 2:45 pm respectively, check out their site for the full April line-up.
Open Bike
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If you’re not a fan of the usual process of stand up, have you ever thought a stand-up show would be more enjoyable if you were exercising? That’s exactly what popular podcast hosts and comedians Bianka Ismailovski and Maryellen have come up with for this year’s comedy festival, with their Open Bike happening at the Cyclebar, where the endorphins and laughs are both set to go off. Or if you’re keen just to be a spectator – you can go and watch the fun from the back, check out more info on that here.
Harlene Hercules: Parent Teacher Night – We Will Get to the Bottom of This
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If you’ve got school-aged kids of your own or were recently in school, you’d be well versed in the world and drama behind schools. This show focuses on Flowerhill College, where principal Miss Fortune requested a meeting, which has brought up a number issues with the rest of the faculty. The show comes with around two decades of teaching experience behind it, you can be one of the first audience members to catch it, the show kicks off this Sunday at the Bluestone Church Arts Space. It’s coming to the MICF thanks to Harlene Hercules, who has been seen in shows such as Wrong Girl, Utopia, and The Ex PM, so you can be sure you’ll be watching a talented performer.
The Boyfriend Couch
As the name suggests, this show details the resting space of many men while their girlfriends are trying on clothes – the boyfriend couch. The play brings two unknown men together, John and Jim, one teaching the other what the boyfriend couch is all about, sharing tips, food, and diving into the solace behind the seat. It’s happening at the Speakeasy HQ – The Vault this Saturday, kicking off at 10:30pm. With tickets only $20, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t catch this interesting show.
You can check out more info on The Boyfriend Couch here.
