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.

Australian Comedy at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe

Scotland’s capital city is bursting at the seams with talented artists as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe begins this week. As is usual many Australian acts are heading up to “sunny” Edinburgh to show the world what they’ve got. If you’re in town, be sure to check out some of these fabulous funny folk listed below.

We’ve compiled a list of all the acts we could find, along with links to the reviews of those shows that our Squirrel writers have seen at previous festivals. As usual we give the disclaimer that Festival shows are ever evolving beasts so the show that we saw could be rather different to current iteration.

If we’ve missed anyone, feel free to drop us a line (or contact us on social media)…

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

Aaron Chen: Piss Off (Just Kidding)
Pleasance Courtyard
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aaron-chen-piss-off-just-kidding
Here’s Colin’s review from MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13744

Aboriginal Comedy Allstars : Kevin Kropinyeri, Andy Saunders and Steph Tisdell
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aboriginal-comedy-allstars

Absolute Zero: Jez Watts
Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/absolute-zero-jez-watts-1

AC/DC: Australian Comedians / Dope Comedy
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ac-dc-australian-comedians-dope-comedy

Aidan ‘Taco’ Jones – 52 Days
Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aidan-taco-jones-52-days-1

Aidan ‘Taco’ Jones – Lightfoot James
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aidan-taco-jones-lightfoot-james

Alex Williamson: Sin on My Face
Just the Tonic at La Belle Angele
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alex-williamson-sin-on-my-face

Alice Fraser: Mythos
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alice-fraser-mythos

Ali Kennedy Scott: Fourth Cousin, Once Removed… Forcibly
Laughing Horse @ The Golf Tavern
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/fourth-cousin-once-removed-forcibly

Andrew Roper: Break Point
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/andrew-roper-break-point

Ange Lavoipierre: Final Form
Underbelly, George Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ange-lavoipierre-final-form

Angus Brown: Everest
Imagination Workshop
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/angus-brown-everest

Apocalypse Comedy Club featuring Mick Neven
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Sneaky Pete’s
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/apocalypse-comedy-club-featuring-mick-neven

Ashes: A Comedy Showdown
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Liquid Room Annexe/Warehouse
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ashes-a-comedy-showdown

Aussiental : Arnie Pie
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aussiental

Bart Freebairn: Maximum Delicious
Just the Tonic at The Caves
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bart-freebairn-maximum-delicious

The Best Show We’ve Ever Done at the Edinburgh Fringe : The Fish Girls
PQA Venues @Riddle’s Court
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/best-show-we-ve-ever-done-at-the-edinburgh-fringe

Brown Panther – Ruven Govender
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/brown-panther-ruven-govender

Celeste Barber: Challenge Accepted
Pleasance at EICC
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/celeste-barber-challenge-accepted

Comedy Boxing – Best of the Best (Kyle Legacy)
Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-boxing-best-of-the-best-1

Comedy Striptease
Laughing Horse @ The Lock Up
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-striptease-1

Craig Fridey: The Darkness Distillery
Laughing Horse @ Sofi’s Southside
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/darkness-distillery

Daniel Connell: Piece of Piss
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/daniel-connell-piece-of-piss

Daniel Muggleton: Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy (But I Reckon it’s Easier for Straight, White Men?)
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/daniel-muggleton-pimpin-ain-t-easy-but-i-reckon-it-s-easier-for-straight-white-men

David Tieck: What Would Bill Murray Do?
Just the Tonic at The Grassmarket Centre
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/david-tieck-what-would-bill-murray-do

Demi Lardner and Tom Walker: We Musn’t
Monkey Barrel Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/demi-lardner-and-tom-walker-we-musn-t

Demi Lardner: Ditch Witch 800
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/demi-lardner-ditch-witch-800

Dilruk Jayasinha: Cheat Day(s)
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dilruk-jayasinha-cheat-day-s
Here’s Lisa’s review from MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13724

Dolly Di*mond’s Bl*nkety Bl*nks
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dolly-di-mond-s-bl-nkety-bl-nks

Double Denim: Adventure Show
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/double-denim-adventure-show

Garry Starr Conquers Troy
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/garry-starr-conquers-troy

Gavin Lind: Shattered
Sweet Grassmarket
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/shattered-1

George Dimarelos: Acting Natural
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/acting-natural

George Dimarelos: A Booklover’s Comedy Show
Laughing Horse @ 32 Below
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/booklover-s-comedy-show

Glenn Grimwood: Unf*ckable
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/glenn-grimwood-unf-ckable

Grant Busé: Touché Busé
Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/grant-buse-touche-buse

The Human Show : Those Big Bois
Laughing Horse @ The Golf Tavern
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/human-show-free-fringe

Imaan Hadchiti: Being Frank
Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/imaan-hadchiti-being-frank

Jocks, Geordies and Aussies
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Whistlebinkies
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jocks-geordies-and-aussies

Josh Glanc: Glance You for Having Me
Monkey Barrel Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/josh-glanc-glance-you-for-having-me
Here’s Nick’s review from MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13739

Julia Rorke
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/julia-rorke

Laura Davis: Better Dead Than a Coward
Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/laura-davis-better-dead-than-a-coward

Louisa Fitzhardinge: Comma Sutra
Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/louisa-fitzhardinge-comma-sutra

Love/Hate Actually (Act/React)
Imagination Workshop
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/love-hate-actually

Love is a Work in Progress with Tara Rankine
Just the Tonic at The Charteris Centre
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/love-is-a-work-in-progress-with-tara-rankine

Luka Muller’s Gong Show
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/luka-muller-s-gong-show

Luka Muller: Haha Cool
Laughing Horse @ The Raging Bull
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/haha-cool

Motherhood: A Comedy: Tara Newton-Wordsworth
Just the Tonic at The Mash House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/motherhood-a-comedy

The Nasty Show Australia
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nasty-show-australia

Nath Valvo: I’m Happy for You
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nath-valvo-i-m-happy-for-you

Neal Portenza is Joshua Ladgrove in Edinburgh’s Only Bilge Pump Sales Seminar
Heroes @ Boteco
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/neal-portenza-is-joshua-ladgrove-in-edinburgh-s-only-bilge-pump-sales-seminar

Nick Elleray: Big Nick Energy
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nick-elleray-big-nick-energy

Ray Badran: Everybody Loves Ray, Man
Pleasance Courtyard
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ray-badran-everybody-loves-ray-man

Rhys Nicholson: Nice People Nice Things Nice Situations
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rhys-nicholson-nice-people-nice-things-nice-situations

Sam Kissajukian: Alcohol is Good for You
Laughing Horse @ The Lock Up
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alcohol-is-good-for-you-sam-kissajukian-1

Sam Kissajukian: Good Evening Edinburgh
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/good-evening-edinburgh

Sam Taunton: It’s Nice, It’s Modern
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sam-taunton-it-s-nice-it-s-modern

The Stevenson Experience: Takes One to Know One
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stevenson-experience-takes-one-to-know-one

Suren Jayemanne: I’m Here, All Weak
Laughing Horse @ Bar 50
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/i-m-here-all-weak

Thomas Green: Tweak
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/thomas-green-tweak

The Three Deaths of Ebony Black (Amberly Cull)
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/three-deaths-of-ebony-black

Tom Ballard: Enough
Monkey Barrel Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-ballard-enough

Tom Cashman: XYZ
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-cashman-xyz

Tom Walker: Very Very
Assembly Roxy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-walker-very-very
Here’s Will’s review from MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13707

Totally Plucked: Grandma Josephine
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/totally-plucked

Two Little Dickheads: Kapow!
Just the Tonic at The Charteris Centre
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/two-little-dickheads-kapow

Wil Greenway: The Ocean After All
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/wil-greenway-the-ocean-after-all

Zoë Coombs Marr: Bossy Bottom
Monkey Barrel Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/zoe-coombs-marr-bossy-bottom
Here’s Lisa’s review from MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=1265

#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

Recommended and Previously Reviewed shows at Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Here Comes Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2019! There are more shows than EVER before and we Squirrels are here to help.

We have a list of all the shows we’ve previously reviewed and also a few that we’re excited about or keen to recommend.

The Aspie Hour had a short run at 2018 The Melbourne Writers Festival. It was a fabulous musical comedy in two parts by two brilliantly talented performers who apparently are both on a spectrum. It’s top notch comedy cabaret for those who love Broadway with laughs.

The Fringe Wives Club has welcomed new members and has grown from 3 to 5 performers. Last year we all rushed out to see Glittery Clittery and adored the crowdpleasing feminist cabaret, but we didn’t manage a review, sorry but the simple review is: We all LOVED it. This year we’ll be rushing to see their new show Glittergrass and make sure we review it.

Tom Ballard is being very busy after having his ABC show Tonightly cancelled. He’s jumped into the festival with gusto. As well as his own show, Enough, which is having a full season run, Tom will be hosting one of the political Tuesday nights at the Festival Club and most intriguingly he’s written a satirical political play called KWANDA. It’s about a Monday night political panel show but it’s not about QandA at all. No. Of course not.

Demi Lardner and Tom Walker both have solo shows again this year, but they have also teamed up to perform We Mustn’t and it’s bound to be weird, wonderful and hilarious.

Don’t forget to check out the alternate guide to the Festival:
The Safety House Guide.
Says creator and stand up comedian Lisa-Skye:
The Safety House Guide is a free magazine featuring nearly 100 of the best acts of the fest. Safe, but never tame, it’s not about censorship, it’s about empowering audiences to make the right decisions about the shows for them. It gives more info about stuff like content, access and the level of audience participation. It also has fun stuff like letters from comedians to their potential audience, info on workshops and quizzes. Grab your free copy around town, or at the launch!

Sam Simmons is a late entry to MICF with his new show 26 Things You’ve Been Doing Wrong with Sam Simmons suddenly be added to the Festival program.

On the down side some performers have already cancelled….But NOT……Tom Cashman XYZ, we read that he had but he has NOT cancelled. Go see him!

Shows that have been Cancelled:

Ronny Chieng has had to bow out due to being cast in a sitcom in pilot season in the US. We wish him all the success, but worry he may be too successful to perform here again… He has rescheduled his Australian shows for July.

Benny Darsow Ad Lib

Charlie Pickering Us & Them

The Elvis Dead by Rob Kemp,

Let’s Get Wild

One Man Breaking Bad by Miles Allen

Thomas McMahon and Nick Quon Total Business Solution

Blanc (That weird fashion circussy thing at Chadstone)

And NOW, Finally…..

Previously Reviewed shows – and links to our reviews:

Annie Louey – Before I Forget

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13164

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/annie-louey-before-i-forget

Barnie Juancan – Tap Head

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13221

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/tap-head

Bunk Puppets – Stark and Dormy

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13151

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/stark-and-dormy

Clare Cavanagh – Literally

Melbourne Fringe: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13192

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/clare-cavanagh-literally

Chloe Black – Transistor Sister

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13202

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/transistor-sister

Felicity Ward – Busting a Nut

Edinburgh Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=12927

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/busting-a-nut

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience

Edinburgh Fringe 2008: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=1633

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/faulty-towers-the-dining-experience

The Breast of The Fest

MICF 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=12624

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/the-breast-of-the-fest

The Dizzy Biz – The 2007 Wonthaggi Blue Light Disco

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13180

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/the-2007-wonthaggi-blue-light-disco

Wool! A History of Australia’s Wool Industry: The Musical by Kit Richards

Melbourne Fringe 2018: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13145

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/wool-a-history-of-australia-s-wool-industry-the-musical

Festive Season Comedy in Melbourne

Comedy for Christmas! Or Festivus! Or celebrating surviving 2018!

What a great idea for a festive get together with your comedy loving buddies.

Every year the comedy venues of Melbourne put on their Christmas shows and there are also quite a few one-off Christmas themed special shows happening. If you are not in Melbourne, check out the gig guides, some of these performers are touring and there should be similar nights happening in comedy clubs near you.

Here is the Squirrel Comedy annual End of Year – Christmas Gig list in roughly date order – of the local ones we could find out about… 

MON 26 Nov – SUN 2 Dec
A Very Kransky Christmas 

At Alex Theatre –  135 Fitzroy St, St Kilda at 7.30 pm

The Kransky Sisters are on a Christmas Tour of Australia and will grace Melbourne with their hilarious Gothic musical-comedy delights for three nights. (They are also touring Sydney and Perth)

Prices – Adult: $49.90 Conc: $44.90

Bookings: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=KRANSKY18

Sat 1 Dec
The Wheeler Centre Presents: Show of the Year

At The Athenaeum Theatre at 7pm

Host Casey ‘Tasty’ Bennetto And A Cast Of Writers, Comedians And Musicians, Including Mama Alto, Steph Tisdell, Shaun Micallef, Jan Fran, Michele Lee, Candy Bowers, WāNi Le Frère, Rebecca Shaw, Laura Jean Mckay And Alan Duffy.

https://www.wheelercentre.com/events/the-show-of-the-year-2018

Sat Dec 1 – 9.30pm
Jackie Lime’s Year End Rear End  

At The Improv Conspiracy Theatre

L1 / 19 Meyers Place, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000

The one and only Jackie Lime is back for his final appearance of 2018. Join Jackie, Indiana, Bitch Boy and a whole slew of special guests to celebrate a massive year with the Talkie Time family in an improvised kind of way.

Price $5 at the Door or $5.50 online to guarantee a seat.

Booking: https://www.improvconspiracy.com/shows/unit/2768/buy-tickets

Dec 6 – 7 – 9.30pm
The Chaser & The Shovel Presents: The War On 2018

At The Village Roadshow Theatrette – 179 La Trobe Street
Melbourne, Vic 3000

Join Charles Firth (The Chaser), James Schloeffel (The Shovel), Mark Humphries (Channel 10’s Pointless) And Special Guests To Be Announced As They Dissect Everything From The Leadership Crisis To The Banking Royal Commission.  (Also touring Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane)

Price: $34 – $104.04

Bookings: https://events.ticketbooth.com.au/event/the-war-on-2018-melbourneHzchcPM

Thurs 8 Dec at 7pm
Merry Salt-Mas! One Hour Of Improvised Christmas

At the Improve Conspiracy Theatre at 7pm

Help them ease into the silly season by suggesting something Christmassy to spring them into an hour of improvised comedy. The Heralayan Salt Lamps’ signature show involves creating a completely improvised show with 8 people on stage at once.

Price: $10

https://www.facebook.com/events/291125438188379/

Tues 11 Dec at 8pm
Catfish Comedy Christmas

At The Catfish upstairs, Fitzroy

Standup Comedy with Daniel Connell, Danielle Walker and Brett Blake  and more great acts To Be Confirmed

Doors open 7:30, $12 entry and don’t forget to try the Philly Cheesesteaks

Sat 15 Dec at 3pm
Don’t You Know Who I Am? 2018 XMAS SHOW

At The Catfish upstairs, Fitzroy

30 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3056

Live podcast recording. The last live show of the year. An all-star cast raising money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation all hosted by Josh Earl from 3:00 PM

Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=446103

Mon 17 Dec at 8.30pm
Local Laughs XMAS SHOW

At The Local Taphouse 184 Carlisle St. St Kilda East

– MC Andrew McClelland, Cal Wilson, Tom Ballard, Sami Shah, Ethan Cavanagh, plus a host of special Christmassy guests.

Price: $25/20

Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=175052&

17, 19, 20, 21, 22 Dec at 7pm
A Christmas Tale a Girls Act Good Production 

At The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne

The all female Verbatim Theatre play that takes a comedic and heartfelt look at the Aussie festivities and celebrates how we can come together to remember the magic of Christmas. Yes! Verbatim Theatre! That is Funny! And about Christmas!

Bookings: https://thebutterflyclub.com/show/a-christmas-tale-2018

10, 12, 13, 14 & 15th Dec at 7pm
’Tis the Season…

At The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne a\

Winner of the prestigious Julie Michael Cabaret Award, ’Tis the Season is performed by Maverick Newman and Stacey Thomsett. It’s a comedy about divorce, dysfunction, love and Christmas!

Cost: $25-34

Bookings : https://thebutterflyclub.com/show/tis-the-season

Dec 20, 21, 22 at 8pm
A Swingin’ Bella Christmas!

At The Melba Spiegeltent this year, the legendary palace of festivity and frivolity adjoining Circus Oz /Melbourne Polytechnic / Collingwood TAFE / Collingwood Tech (depending on your era)!

– a finger-snappin’, toe-tappin’ romp through traditional carols, modern favourites and specially-written original songs of the season, executed with airy panache by a horn-laden bevy of brilliant performers known throughout the civilised world as The Bella All-Stars!

Out front, MCs Casey Bennetto and Geraldine Quinn will be joined by special guests:
Selina Jenkins – Thur 20th December
Nina Ferro & Tripod – Fri 21st December
Mike McLeish – Sat 22nd December

Limited tickets remaining
Bookings: https://www.bellaunion.com.au/

Sat 22 Dec at 8pm
Basement Comedy Club – Special Xmas Show!

European Bier Café, 120 Exhibition St Melbourne

There will be fantastic Comedians on the bill as ever….TBA

Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=263827&

Sun 23 Dec at 8pm
The Little Dum Dum Club Orphans Christmas Live Podcast

Downstairs at Basement Comedy Club,

European Bier Cafe, 120 Exhibition St, Melbourne CBD

Come and hang out with The Dum Dums: Karl Chandler and Tommy Dassalo and heaps of their comedian friends. + a little bonus Christmas gift with every ticket sold!

Bookings: http://littledumdumclub.com/?events=orphans-christmas-december-23-8pm

Comedy for Christmas in Melbourne

By Lisa Clark

Comedy at Christmas time is the perfect choice for festive celebrations. Sometimes Very Christmassy, sometimes a look at the year gone by (& aren’t we just hanging out for 2016 to have gone bye bye?), sometimes a chance to drink, laugh and forget….  The Comedy Rooms in Melbourne are putting on some Fantastic line ups throughout December and brilliant comedians doing exciting Christmas shows. So organise your bookings, get together with your friends to laugh and forget about the past year and the coming Christmas family obligations.

3 Sat – A Very Judy Christmas – The Butterfly Club

Brendy Ford  as Judy Free

https://thebutterflyclub.com/show/a-very-judy-christmas

4  Sun – Political Asylum – The Brunswick Green

Mathew Kenneally
Toby Halligan
Jess Moir
Tom Ballard
Ben Pobjie
Nicholas J Johnson
& more!

http://blog.politicalasylum.com.au/2016/11/first-show-of-new-trump-tatorship.html

7 Wed – The Wheeler Centre The Show of the Year 2016  – The Atheneum Theatre

Casey Bennetto  Geraldine Quinn , Deborah Conway, Tom Ballard, Geraldine Hickey, Cal Wilson, Danny McGinlay, Jennifer Byrne and more…

http://www.wheelercentre.com/events/the-show-of-the-year-2016

9 Fri –  Tripod Christmas Turkeys – Memo Music Hall in St Kilda

http://3pod.com.au/site/christmas-turkeys/

10 Sat –  Tripod Christmas Turkeys – Memo Music Hall in St Kilda

http://3pod.com.au/site/christmas-turkeys/

15 Thurs –  Sammy J & Randy Land – Xmas Tour – The Atheneum

http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=SAMMRAND16&v=ATT

16 Fri –  Sammy J & Randy Land – Xmas Tour – The Atheneum

http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=SAMMRAND16&v=ATT

17 Sat –  Sammy J & Randy Land – Xmas Tour – The Atheneum

http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=SAMMRAND16&v=ATT

19 Mon – Local Laughs Christmas show – Local Taphouse StKilda

MC Andrew McClelland
The Bedroom Philosopher
David Quirk
Michael Williams
Geraldine Hickey
& More!

21 Wed – Swingin’ Bella Christmas – Bella Union Bar

MCs Casey Bennetto and Geraldine Quinn will be joined by Tim Rogers

https://www.bellaunion.com.au/event/1114/

22 Thur – Swingin’ Bella Christmas – Bella Union Bar

MCs Casey Bennetto and Geraldine Quinn will be joined by Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier

https://www.bellaunion.com.au/event/1114/

23 Fri – Swingin’ Bella Christmas – Bella Union Bar

MCs Casey Bennetto and Geraldine Quinn will be joined by Scott Edgar, Steven Gates & Eddie Perfect

https://www.bellaunion.com.au/event/1114/

24 Sat – Little Dum Dum Club Orphan Christmas – European Bier Café

Tommy Dassalo and Karl Chandler and their mates.

https://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=241442&hs=littledumdumclub.com