5 Good Reasons to see a show at The Imperial during MICF

We love supporting smaller independent venues away from The Town Hall during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, ’cause lets face it, everyone knows about that venue – they really don’t need any of our help. We were sad to say goodbye to the little bar Rue Rabelons as a venue in Melbourne, but we’re happy to announce a new venue for the festival up the posh end of town, opposite the Government House – The Imperial Hotel. The comedy there is being curated by Angela Thompson and Micah D Higbed. It will have 2 rooms running through the festival with a variety of young and up and coming performers giving it a great vibe. They had their own mini Gala on Thursday night where host Jimmy James Eaton and performers Tom Ward, Victoria Healy and Neil Sinclair (above) gave us a great taste of what’s to come. So with fourteen shows to choose from, a bar and some yummy pub food deals on offer, don’t forget to hop on a tram and pop up to The Imperial during the festival this year.

5 Good Reasons to see a show at The Imperial during MICF

1) There are 14 great shows on in the one venue!

1. Andy Matthews & Tony Besselink – Atchieve Nothing
2. Balderdash (Tim Clark & Liam Ryan)
3. Dave Fairclough – In Love
4. Elliot Cyngler is Too Small to Function
5. Jason Geary & Jimmy James Eaton – Sketch-ual Healing
6. Jonathan Schuster’s Chrysalis
7. Micah D Higbed – Noteworthy
8. Neil Sinclair – Phoney
9. Sam Peterson, Natalie Harris & Nick Quon – 3 Little Gigs
10. Sullivan & Bok
11. The Time Machine
12. These Kids Are Good
13. Victoria Healy’s Anatomy
14. Xavier Toby – White Trash

2) The shows are all cheap. Most are $15 full price. Some are even cheaper. Also, cheap student tickets on the door.

3) Independently produced! We’ve even kitted the place out ourselves. BYO stage? Yes siree.

4) The Imperial has great food, and they are doing even more special specials during MICF. They also have a top notch drinks selection.

5) All the shows are great. We don’t have any duds, hidden away in a smaller font. They are ALL THE SAME FONT SIZE!

Check out facebook.com/ImpyComedy for updates on the shows, pics, giveaways and competitions. We’re also on @ImpyComedy if you’re in to that kind of thing.

The Imperial Hotel is at 2 – 8 Bourke St Melbourne on the corner of Spring St.

See the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Guide and website for show details

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au

Neil Sinclair – Panic

By Elyce Phillips

Neil Sinclair is a survivor. Perhaps not in the heroic sense, but certainly in a shambolic ‘managed not to die’ kind of way. Panic tells the tale of how Sinclair managed to get through the London Riots with naught but his wits, and copious amounts of wine to sustain him.

Sinclair has created a delightful show from what must have been a terrifying experience. The show is largely set in a Whitechapel flat, where Sinclair is panicking with his roommates as the rioters get closer to their home. The show has a very laid-back feel to it, however, perhaps because of Sinclair’s conversational style. There are occasional pieces that feel more structured, such as the interludes in his kitchen ‘War Room’, which are hilarious – particularly his pun-tastic readings from the twitter feed. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good dad joke on occasion? Sinclair even pulls out the ukulele for a song or two, including a mesmerizing jingle for his electronics store, Neil’s Electrics.

Of course, the show is not all innocent puns and adorable ukulele. A wonderfully painful drawn-out moment in which Sinclair crafts the perfect comeback to his mum’s lecturing had me in tears. However, Sinclair’s story of the riots is a quintessentially British one. In the aftermath, no one discusses what has happened – something Sinclair attempts to rectify with a brilliant self-help tape. His roommate even has ‘fond memories’ of the event. It’s altogether civilized.

Panic is a quirky and downright charming show. Sinclair’s act is a little rough around the edges, but is so endearing that you find yourself rooting for him the whole way through. There is a lot to like about this show and Sinclair is certainly a comedian to keep your eye on.

Neil Sinclair –Panic! is on at Rue Bebelons Upstairs until April 21.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2012/season/shows/panic-neil-sinclair/

Five Good Reasons to go to Rue Bebelons to see Neil Sinclair, Victoria Healy and Cam Marshall

For casual Festival goers it is easy to think that The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is all about The Town Hall, but to serious comedy fans, we know there is some fabulous comedy happening in smaller venues all over Melbourne. Rue Bebelons is a groovy little bar just off Swanston st and the performance space is out a side door and up some outside steps that leads above the building next door. Last year it was the venue for Victoria Healy’s debut show For The Experience, this year they are hosting three new productions, Victoria is doing a new show ‘Independent Women Part 2’ about growing up in the 90s, Cam Marshall is talking about being a dad and his own dad in Father, Father and Neil Sinclair… Neils Electrics Neils Electrics…sorry, is back from over a year in the UK with a show that talks about living through the London riots last year that unsurprisingly called Panic! Here are five good reasons to see them.

Five Good Reasons to see VICTORIA HEALY – INDEPENDENT WOMEN PART 2

1. That’s easy! Beyonce, Shania, Fergie, Destiny’s Child and the Spice Girls!!!!! Need I say more? Only the best for my audience.
2. Oh more? Well how about this? It’s a perfect way to kick off a girls night out. A couple of cocktails with the girls downstairs, then see a great show about the female pop anthem of the late 90â€Čs & early 2000â€Čs. Then finish off the night reminiscing about Y2K, leopard-print onesies, Lois & Clark and what you did under
the influence of Girl Power.
3. But it’s not just for the girls. Guys have enjoyed this show plenty, when it was performed at sell-out shows at the 2011 Melbourne Fringe and most recently at the Inaugural 2012 Fringe World – Perth.
4. Also, it’s got a story! Like, with a beginning, middle and end. Expect to be taken on a journey of discovery: learning to become an Independent Women.
5. And finally, come see for yourself the comedienne, Victoria Healy, who’s been called many things including “…an excellent comic characters actress” – ChortleAU, “…dances around like a drunken uncle…” – West Australian and “File this lively new performer under ‘one to watch out for’” – RHUM,

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2012/season/shows/independent-women-part-2-victoria-healy/

 

Five Good Reasons to see NEIL SINCLAIR IN PANIC!

1. It’s a first hand account of one of the most significant events in the last 10 years… except maybe the Arab spring or Gadaffe being overthrown. So maybe it’s a first hand account of one of the most significant events that’s even been turned into a stand up comedy show, in the last 10 years.
2. It includes the song “Neils Electrics”
3. It’s the only show in the festival with sock puppet karaoke.
4.I will be saying this joke: “Laminator, a robotic sheep that covers paper in plastic… and cannot be stopped.”
5.It will teach you the basics of crisis management: Panic, and make sure those around you are doing the same.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2012/season/shows/panic-neil-sinclair/

 

Five Good reasons to see CAM MARSHALL IN FATHER, FATHER:
1. It’s an entertaining story with jokes about my dad but not dad jokes
2. It’s a compelling tale with jokes about being a dad but no references to nappies
3. I compare being a 70s child to a child now without the need to reference Atari or Nintendo Wii
4. It’s a great opportunity to deal with your daddy issues for only $15
5. A 7.00pm start means you’re not out late on a school night!

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2012/season/shows/in-father-father-cam-marshall/