Welcome to Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

It’s that Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Comedy Christmas!! Melbourne is chockers full of comedians and comedy fans all excited about the three weeks to come.

It’s hard to recommend shows, as everyone’s taste will vary, but I assure you that the Festival will have something to make YOU laugh, there are over 600 shows to choose from! You just have to find Your thing and that is part of what we Squirrels are about, helping you have a great night out. Our reviews can give you an idea if a show might be for you. Sometimes I can even read a negative review and think, no actually, that one might just be my cup of tea. That’s why it can also be great to take a punt on something new if it piques your interest.

I can definitely see a mini trend of musical comedy being back So I thought I might focus on this genre of comedy and list some acts that I can honestly recommend to you as astonishingly talented and funny performers. They have to be brilliant musicians, singers AND Comedians to really pull off Musical Comedy well and they can come at it from different perspectives be they political, geeky, storytelling, raunchy or just plain silly.

Recommended Musical Comedy Shows at MICF 2023

I’ll start with the well known superstars of Musical Comedy: Tripod, Sammy J – Good Hustle, Geraldine Quinn – Broad, Gillian Cosgriff – Actually, Good, Die Roten Punkte – Otto & Astrid’s Joint Solo Project (directed by Neill Gladwin and Dramaturg Casey Bennetto), Andrew Hansen –Is Cheap [The one from The Chaser who sang the songs]. (Do Lano & Woodley count as musical comedians? I have a CD of their songs….so maybe.) You just cannot go wrong choosing to see any of these amazing accomplished performers.

Newer local upcoming stars that everyone was talking about at last year’s festival include Reuben Kaye – doing 2 shows this year; Live and Intimidating and The Kay Hole, Michelle Brasier – Legacy, Gabbi Bolt – Odd Sock and Jude Perl (with Nina Oyama) We should Hang Out –[ it is Sold Out right now, hoping for an extra show]

There are also Cabaret Showcases such as Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite Variety-Nite Night, Josh Earl’s 100%Hits and of course Haus Party at The Festival Club where the cream of the musical comedians (and other comedy stylings) will be turning up for spots.

Overseas musical comedians who may be new to you are visiting our shores in Festival season, here are some who are really worth checking out: UK’s Huge Davies [he’s dry and super cool, and part of New Order], Jordan Gray – Is It A Bird? [Ed Fringe Nominee pipped out of the top prize by our own Sam Campell] and Laurie Black – Dystopiano [doing feminist post punk synth comedy], I’ve seen them all, they’re great.

New Zealand’s Two Hearts We’re Pregnant and The Baby is Music, I think I’ve enjoyed them at a Festival Club….

Then there is Ned Kelly The Big Gay Musical by Kaine which is the only one I’m recommending that I’ve seen this before, but it looks like it might be jolly fun.

Other comedy at MICF.

Older school comedians coming to the Festival who you may not have seen do a show in a few years include Ed Byrne, Dylan Moran, Kyle Kinane, and our own Paul McDermott, Tony Martin, Bev Killick, Brad Oaks & even Akmal is back.

Political Comedy is popular too with Tom Ballard doing 2 shows, A Rational Fear doing 1 big show and Sammy J doing it via character comedy. Melissa MGlansey’s The Briefing (About maddening US politics – which is awesome, check it out). Osher Gunsberg Night Time News Network National News, is a curiosity we’re all wondering about, will it be political comedy? Or just a news lampoon, anyway it involves impro. Ben Russell, Greg Larsen & Friends are laying their politics out there with Election Results (Not Satire), they couldn’t be clearer, could they?

In Other News

European Bier Cafe has been renovated, re-named and is now called Morris House.
Some shows are already sold out or selling fast, new shows have been added for Sam Campbell, Tony Martin and Maisie Adams.
Cancelled shows are listed at the top of the list of shows on the MICF website.

If you know of shows cancelling or selling out, feel free to let us know on the socials or by email.

Australians at Edinburgh Fringe 2022

The 75th Edinburgh Fringe Festival begins this week and, after a bit of an enforced break, there will be a strong contingent of Australian acts (as well as Aussie Expats and adopted Aussies) back in Auld Reeky town raring to tread the boards again. Here is a list of those we could find along with any reviews we have previously written.

Our British Correspondent Ron will be seeing a whole slew of shows and reviewing them for us.

To all those performers in Edinburgh, Chookas from The Squirrels and have a wonderful Fringe.

Adam Knox, Luka Muller and Peter Jones – 3’s Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/3-s-comedy-adam-knox-luka-muller-and-peter-jones

 

 

 

Aboriginal Comedy Allstars (Sean Choolburra, Janty Blair, Kevin Kropinyeri and Jay Wymarra)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aboriginal-comedy-allstars

 

 

 

AC/DC: Australian Comedians / Dope Comedy (Hosted by Daniel Muggleton)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ac-dc-australian-comedians-dope-comedy

 

 

 

Adelaide vs Edinburgh: The Clash of the Fringes
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/adelaide-vs-edinburgh-the-clash-of-the-fringes

 

 

 

Adults Only Magic Show (Sam Hume and Justin Williams)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/adults-only-magic-show

 

 

 

Aidan Jones – Looking for Work
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aidan-jones-looking-for-work

 

 

 

 

Aidan Jones – Taco
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aidan-jones-taco

 

 

 

 

Alcohol Is Good For You
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alcohol-is-good-for-you

 

 

 

 

Alice Fraser: Chronos
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alice-fraser-chronos

 

 

 

 

Ange Lavoipierre: I’ve Got 99 Problems and Here’s an Exhaustive List of Them
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ange-lavoipierre-i-ve-got-99-problems-and-here-s-an-exhaustive-list-of-them

 

 

The Anniversary (Claire Barthomew & Daniel Tobias)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anniversary

 

 

 

Anthony Jeannot: The Middle Bit
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anthony-jeannot-the-middle-bit

 

 

 

 

An Aussie, African and Englishman Walk Into a Bar…
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aussie-african-and-englishman-walk-into-a-bar

 

 

 

Beak: Cocktail Boys (previously part of Burger King Illuminati)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/beak-cocktail-boys

 

 

 

 

Best of Adelaide’s Fringe Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/best-of-adelaide-s-fringe-comedy

 

 

 

 

A Bookish Comedy Show
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bookish-comedy-show

 

 

 

 

Comedy Boxing
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-boxing

 

 

 

 

Comedy Hour: Prue Blake, Peter Jones and Sonia Di Iorio
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-hour-prue-blake-peter-jones-and-sonia-di-iorio

 

 

 

Comedy Striptease (Hosted by Kyle Legacy)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-striptease

 

 

 

Dan Rath: Cockroach Party
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dan-rath-cockroach-party

 

 

 

 

Dan Wills: Australia: A Whinging Pom’s Guide
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/australia-a-whinging-pom-s-guide

 

 

 

Daniel Muggleton: Oh, More Mr White Guy?
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/daniel-muggleton-oh-more-mr-white-guy

 

 

 

Danielle Walker: Nostalgia
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/danielle-walker-nostalgia

Here is what Bren Carruthers thought of it at MICF 2022: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=15297

 

David Boyle: Stranded
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stranded

 

 

 

 

Dean Misdale: Life’s a Drag
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/life-s-a-drag

 

 

 

 

Dolly Diamond’s Hi T
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dolly-diamond-s-hi-t

 

 

 

 

Dolly Diamond’s Bosom Buddies
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dolly-diamond-s-bosom-buddies

 

 

 

 

Erin Fowler: EGG
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/egg

 

 

 

 

The Eric Tinker Experience
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/eric-tinker-experience

 

 

 

 

Gabbi Bolt: I Hope My Keyboard Doesn’t Break
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/gabbi-bolt-i-hope-my-keyboard-doesn-t-break

 

 

 

Garry Starr: Greece Lightning
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/garry-starr-greece-lightning

 

 

 

 

George Dimarelos – 3am Brain
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/3am-brain

 

 

 

 

Geraldine Quinn: BROAD
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/geraldine-quinn-broad

 

 

 

 

Grant Busé: SentiMENTAL!
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/grant-buse-sentimental

 

 

 

 

Haus Party with Otto & Astrid
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/haus-party-with-otto-astrid

 

 

 

 

He Huang : Crazy Broken Chinese
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/crazy-broken-chinese

 

 

 

 

How to Converse
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/how-to-converse

 

 

 

 

Matt Harvey : I Got Bit by a Monkey Once
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/i-got-bit-by-a-monkey-once

Here’s what Peter Newling thought of this show at MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13806

 

The Importance of Being Earnest as Performed by Three F*cking Queens and a Duck
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/importance-of-being-earnest-as-performed-by-three-f-cking-queens-and-a-duck

 

 

Jimeoin: The Craic!
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jimeoin-the-craic

 

 

 

 

Josh Glanc: Vrooom Vrooom
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/josh-glanc-vrooom-vrooom

 

 

 

 

Karen from Finance is Out of Office
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/karen-from-finance-is-out-of-office

 

 

 

 

Late Show Great Show (Featuring 3 mystery Australian comedians!)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/late-show-great-show

 

 

 

Laura Davis: If This Is It
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/laura-davis-if-this-is-it

 

 

 

 

Liars and Clowns: A Late Night Comedy Show (Presented by Kyle Dolan)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/liars-and-clowns-a-late-night-comedy-show

 

 

 

Life Drawing With a Comedian
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/life-drawing-with-a-comedian

 

 

 

 

The Listies: Hamlet – Prince of Skidmark
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/listies-hamlet-prince-of-skidmark

 

 

 

 

Lloyd Langford: DILF
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lloyd-langford-dilf

 

 

 

 

Maryellen : Call Me Me
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/call-me-me

 

 

 

 

Michelle Brasier: Average Bear
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/michelle-brasier-average-bear

Here’s what Lisa Clark though of it at MICF 2022: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=14941

 

Mick Neven: Nevolution
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/mick-neven-nevolution

 

 

 

 

Nikki Britton: One Small Step
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nikki-britton-one-small-step

 

 

 

 

Oliver Coleman: Sublime
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/oliver-coleman-sublime

 

 

 

 

Olivia McLeod: PASH
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/pash

 

 

 

 

OZmosis: The Great Australian Variety Pack  (Hosted by Dane Simpson)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ozmosis-the-great-australian-variety-pack

 

 

 

Randy Feltface: Alien of Extraordinary Ability
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/randy-feltface-alien-of-extraordinary-ability

 

 

 

Ray Badran: Sweet Baby Ray
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ray-badran-sweet-baby-ray

 

 

 

 

Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/reuben-kaye-the-butch-is-back

 

 

 

 

Rhys Nicholson – Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rhys-nicholson-rhys-rhys-rhys

 

 

 

 

Sam Campbell: Comedy Show
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sam-campbell-comedy-show

 

 

 

 

Sam Taunton: Yoho Diabolo
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sam-taunton-yoho-diabolo

 

 

 

 

Tim Ogborne : The In-Laws
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/in-laws

 

 

 

 

Tina del Twist: Caravan in the Sky
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tina-del-twist-caravan-in-the-sky

 

 

 

 

Tom Walker: Javelin
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-walker-javelin

 

 

 

 

Troy Kinne : Live
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/troy-kinne-live

Michelle Brasier: Average Bear

By Lisa Clark 

Average, the Bear, welcomes us to the gorgeous intimate space and mingles with the audience making small talk. As lovely, gentle and convivial as she is, there is a tension in the audience of; “Will she talk to me? How will I answer her questions? I’d better have an answer ready!” It’s OK and she doesn’t chat to everyone and doesn’t make us too much part of the show, phew, she’s letting us know that we are at the Pre hibernation Drinkies for Bears and human guests, including our human entertainment, Michelle Brasier.

You may know Michelle Brasier from appearing as part of Mad As Hell, Aunty Donna or Double Denim, but you won’t know her until you see Average Bear. And you should see Average Bear. It is one of the Best cabaret shows I’ve seen. A shiver went up my spine, like the first time I saw Tim Minchin’s Rock and Roll Nerd and Michelle’s better at the comedy side of things.

From her first jaw dropping song, to the last and everything in between, the audience was hers. There is a big Broadway musical vibe to her talent and this performance that beautifully balances comedy and tragedy could travel anywhere. If you have listened to her chat with Wil Anderson on his Wilosophy podcast, you will have an idea as to what this autobiographical, origin story is about; innocence, grief, waiting, and learning to walk again after a horrific accident amongst other things. It’s actually very funny, but have a tissue handy. Really.

A lot has happened since Michelle Brasier was awarded the Moosehead to create Average Bear. Part way through the show, like a child who realises she’s outgrown her sleep-time friend, Michelle drops the whole bear thing. She doesn’t need it. She can sing, dance, do outlandish sketch comedy and standup with charm and charisma. The world is waiting for her.

Michelle Brasier performs Average Bear at Comedy Republic til April 18

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2021/shows/michelle-brasier

Virtually Funny

By Colin Flaherty

Virtually Funny… sorry, “The Melbourne International Very Serious Short Film Festival” provided plenty of laughs even though the sign at the venue stated that a serious art event lay beyond its doors. You knew you were in for a good time when the house music consisted of kitchy covers of the classic tune “Popcorn”.

First up was a bit of French New Wave by Marcel Lucont with plenty of his trademark arrogance and disdane which was being translated into Aussie for the audince’s benefit. When Marcel’s displeasure extended beyond the screen, you knew we were in for something special.

Next was Bec Hill performing her crowd pleasing flip chart illustrations of the lyrics to Piaf’s Je Ne Regrette Rien. This riotious routine started out normally but soon desended into some third diamension lunancy that added a whole new flavour to the piece.

Natalie Palamides presented an attempt at “philosophical musing” involving a herculean task of housework. This was played wonderfully straight so that when elements of the film invaded the audience it was a joy to behold.

Michelle Brasier and Josh Glanc provided some culture with a performance of Romeo & Juliet: Act 5, Scene 3. Hammy overacting and character breaking had us in stitches while lines and stage directions were changed on the fly with riotous results.

“Cinema Staff” Shari and Garry filled in for some “technical glitches” with a spot of karaoke but were soon interrupted by some unsavory foreigners (played by Viggo Venn and Julia Masli onscreen with in the flesh menace provided by David Tieck). We were treated to some cartoon violence, a strange rap performance and wacky love triangle (or was it a pentangle?).

Virtually Funny had shades of “The Show That Goes Wrong” with the in person team trying to hold things together as film and reality broke down. Our host (played by Janet A McLeod) was the arty farty type trying to maintain a veneer of high brow culture in the face of the chaos. The loveable dogsbody characters played by Tieck and Sharnema Nougar (of Two Little Dickheads fame), and Garry Starr offered plenty of help but fell hilariously short. The physical cast were run off their feet reacting to every breaking of the the fourth wall (or is it screen demolition?). Some of the reaction to cues were a little clunky but they pulled through on charm.

A brilliantly ambitious and inventive merger of film and live action, this show employed plenty of visual trickery to bring the filmic action into our laps. Congrats to the local team and the filmmakers for pulling off a hilarious tour de force.

Virtually Funny is on at Loop Project Space & Bar every Friday and Saturday until April 17
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2021/shows/virtually-funny

#KWANDA: A Play

By Lisa Clark 

As well as his normal political type stand up show that Tom Ballard is known for, this year Tom has written a satirical play. And it is not at all about The ABC TV show Q&A. No Not At All.

We are the audience in a TV studio on a Monday night, there is an applause sign and some audience members are given questions to ask by a roving man with a mic, so you or someone you know might end up being part of the show. Tom Ballard plays the host Tony Jones, and joining him on the panel are five guests; Michelle Brasier plays millennial, hipster singer Meridith, Ra Chapman is statistician Susan Minh , Geraldine Hickey plays ex extreme right wing party /current independent Leonie, Patrick Livesey the Liberal politician Michael Lawson and Emily Taheny played Labor politician Katie. (I’m not sure who the chap was with the mic – he later pulls out a guitar and supports Michelle Brasier with her hilarious singing. This is one of those group MICF shows that I wish had programmes for the audience).

Tom Ballard, once actually hosted Q&A, so he knows his subject and creates a very credible vibe, but his comedy voice does not always sound authentic coming out of the mouths of some of the performers. It is clear that the performers who get the most laughs have the most comedy experience. The stand out is Geraldine Hickey who is proving to be a brilliant comedic actress, her timing is just awesome and character pitch perfect. She plays it totally straight and yet is able to get huge laughs every time she interjects. I wish somebody would make a movie where Geraldine could be hilarious.

#KWANDA: A Play is, no doubt, a great Catharsis for people who yell at the TV each week while watching Q&A but continue to watch Q&A. I got sick of watching it years ago and this, unfortunately, reminds me of everything I dislike about it, it’s just a bit too close to reality, which admittedly is becoming almost too insane to satirise. Everything that happens in the play has pretty much happened in real life except that this time the host gets to have a tantrum as well. Maybe this play needs more comedy wigs and silliness & less shouting recriminations, to make it more pleasurable to watch than the real thing, a bit more removed from reality, like, dare I say, Mad As Hell.

I can’t help but feel that Tom has written this to let out all his frustrations of the past year and in some ways we can all relate to that! I’m always happy that the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has space for these sorts of bold experiments in comedy theatre. There were audience members around me having a fabulous time and I certainly laughed quite a lot, if mostly at Geraldine Hickey.

#KWANDA: A Play is playing at The Lower Melbourne Town Hall

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/kwanda

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Awards for 2018

This year instead of being presented in the middle of the night at the Festival Club as is traditional, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Awards were instead presented at 1pm in the afternoon at Belleville. It was more relaxed and civilised with drinks and nibblies (and better lighting for photos) and it was great knowing that everyone in the room was involved and invested in the results, but sort of sad that it was restricted to invite only. I was very lucky to be invited, but other fans on the rim of the festival, but just as invested would have been sad (as I was when this happened once in the past) to not be a part of that middle of the night wild excitement and joy when a favourite, or someone you’ve discovered wins an award.

I can’t deny that there was some surprise as well as delight for Sam Campbell’s win. Although he has been performing in Sydney for a while and getting some TV work (you may have seen him on The Checkout), he’s still pretty much under the radar of the general public. We fell in love with his work when we saw Zanzoop! early in it’s run in 2016 and spent the rest of the Festival telling anyone who would listen that they should go and see the strange talk show hosted by a wise cracking alien in a back alley nightclub. This year we loved both shows he was involved with; his own, The Trough and Anne Edmond’s Helen Bidou – Enter the Spinnaker Lounge where he played Helen’s long suffering, very awkward son Connor.

2018 AWARD WINNERS

Hannah Gadsby Presenting The Barry Award from New York

Barry Award, for the best show: Sam Campbell The Trough  

Nominees for The Barry Award:
Alex Edelman (USA)- Just for Us 
Anne Edmonds – as Helen Bidou – Enter the Spinaker Lounge
Tim Key (UK) – Megadate
Lano & Woodley (Colin Lane and Frank Woodley) – Fly!
Rose Matafeo (NZ) – Horndog!
Celia Pacquola – All Talk
Natalie Palamides (USA) – Laid

 

The Best Newcomer: Danielle Walker Bush Rat 

Danielle Walker

This award was presented by Sarah Dodds of Soho Theatre who will be bringing Danielle to London to make her Debut at The Soho Theatre.

Nominees for The Best Newcomer Award:
Paul Williams(NZ) – Summertime Love
Stephanie Tisdell – Identity Steft
Garry Starr – Performs Everything
Lewis Garnham – The Smartest Idiot You’ll Ever Meet
Nadia Collins – Virgin Bloody Mary

 

The Golden Gibbo Award (for an artistic independent production): 

Cam Venn


Cam Venn for 
Charles Horse Lays An Egg
The prize is a Bottle of Red Wine and was presented by Lynda Gibson’s Niece Emma Maye Gibson, also known as Betty Grumble

Nominees for The Golden Gibbo Award:
Sophie Joske and Anna Piper Scott  – Almost Lesbians
Garry Starr  – Performs Everything 
Julia Rorke & Elysia Hall – Not Another F***** B**** In India
Michelle Brasier & Laura Frew
(Double Denim) – Double Denim Adventure Show]

Lano & Woodley

People’s Choice Award:
Lano & Woodley – Fly!

This award signifies that Fly! sold the most tickets at this year’s Festival.

 

The Directors’ Choice Award:
Michelle Brasier and Laura Frew for Double Denim Adventure Show

 

 

The Pinder Prize: Demi Lardner – I Love Skeleton 
This Award funds her trip to the Edinburgh Fringe
to perform at Assembly Festival.

 

 

Heath Franklin

Piece of Wood Award (Peer Award from other comedians):
Heath Franklin – Bogan Jesus 

 

Funny Tonne Winner: Alasdair Bryant (76 Shows)

Deadly Funny National Grand Final winner: Leon Filewood (QLD)

RAW Comedy Grand Final Winner: Bec Melrose (NSW)  
Bec has won a trip to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival to compete in So You Think You’re Funny?.
RAW Runners-Up: Gavin Sempel (VIC), Emma Holland (ACT)

Class Clowns National Grand Final Winners Liam Adam, Carlin Carruth & Kyle Bennett (QLD) as ‘Awkward’!
Class Clowns Runners-Up:
Dusty Diddle (VIC),
Nina Cowley-Mousinho (QLD)
Shiloh Rea (QLD)
Nicholas Doring (NSW)