Three brilliant comedy talents are set for this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival thanks to the Victorian government.
The Stand Up! grants program, established in 2019, supports women and non-binary performers with serious comedy chops. The initiative honours Eurydice Dixon, a young Melbourne comedian whose promising career was tragically cut short before she could achieve her professional dreams.
This year’s recipients include Melbourne’s own Maddy Weeks (previous Best Newcomer nominee), Meg Jäger (RAW Comedy runner-up) and Janty Blair (Deadly Funny winner). Each will bring their unique brand of hilarity to stages across the festival.
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Maddy Weeks, an award-winning non-binary comedian originally from Goulburn, has rapidly become a beloved fixture in comedy rooms nationwide. They scored an Antenna Award in 2023 for hosting Channel 31’s Wait, We’re Live!?, followed by a prestigious Best Newcomer nomination at the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Known for high-energy performances and infectious enthusiasm, they’ve cemented themselves as one of the most captivating (and loudest) acts on the Australian stand-up scene.
Since jumping into comedy four years ago, Meg Jäger has been winning over east coast audiences with her acerbic witticisms, proving she’s more than just a pair of killer choozzies. After nabbing runner-up in RAW Comedy 2023 and being handpicked for Comedy Zone in 2024, Meg is quickly becoming one to watch on the Australian comedy circuit.
Janty Blair rounds out the trio as a deadly Butchulla, Mununjali and Woppaburra woman currently based in Naarm. After taking out Deadly Funny in 2022, she’s performed at numerous events across the country, including the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala supporting Oxfam Australia. As a Moosehead Award Recipient for her upcoming show, Janty brings her distinctive Blak comedy to the stage while showcasing the talents of an older First Nations woman who never expected to land this comedy gig thing!
These grants support the delivery of shows, covering expenses like marketing, venue costs, rehearsal space and safe travel to and from gigs.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks MP said: “The Allan Labor Government proudly backs the Stand Up! program which honours the life of Eurydice Dixon by supporting talented women and non-binary comedians and helping to break down barriers to building comedy careers. Previous recipients have secured managers, booked tours and turned comedy into a full-time career. We look forward to seeing these recipients light up the stage at one of the world’s largest comedy festivals – and watching their careers go from strength to strength up ahead.”
Festival Director Susan Provan AO added: “Our Stand Up! grant recipients are bold, funny women and non-binary performers, strongly committed to their comedy careers, unafraid to use their voices to generate social change and motivated by their authentic and joyful passion for comedy. They are creating fresh, challenging work that makes their audiences think hard and laugh hard.”
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