Behind the scenes banter with Tom Gleeson, Hughesy and Judith Lucy at an iconic Comedy Festival photoshoot

Australia’s ten top comics get done up for a Vanity Fair style shoot — then unwind with a drink and a joke, as they do best. Mikey Cahill reports on their dry wit from behind the scenes.

Ten comedians walk into a bar.

It’s Australia’s top stand-ups as you’ve never seen them — refined and relaxed.

They’re off stage and off the clock as they take a breather before the start of the 33rd Melbourne International Comedy Festival this week.

Dave Hughes, Tom Gleeson, Tommy Little, Judith Lucy, Joel Creasey, Becky Lucas, Dilruk Jayasinha, Rhys Nicholson, Wil Anderson and Anne Edmonds got all done up in ballroom finery and haute couture, posed for an iconic Vanity Fair style snap at the newly-reopened Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda, then kicked back.

Top: L-R Wil Anderson (wearing Joe Black), Dilruk Jayasinha (Joe Black) and Tom Gleeson (Anthony Squires), Middle: L-R Dave Hughes (Jack London), Becky Lucas (Alin Le Kal dress/Anton earrings), Rhys Nicholson (Silvana Tedesco), Anne Edmonds (Silvana Tedesco gown/Stephanie Browne hair piece) Bottom: L-R Tommy Little (Joe Black), Judith Lucy (Craig Braybrook) Joel Creasey (Calibre) Shoes by Edward Meller and Bared. Stylist Rachel Dennis. Location The Espy. Picture: Nicole Cleary

They ate pizza, yum-cha and drank cocktails in the plush velvet couches as they swapped jokes about Egg Boy.

The biggest names are ready for a month of all-LOLs-no-lulls for the Comedy Festival starting Wednesday until April 22.

More than 2000 performers will take the stage in 600 shows to approximately 800,000 people.

PATRICK HORAN’S BEST MOMENTS FROM THE GALA

MICHELLE WOLF READY TO JUDGE AUSTRALIA

MIKEY CAHILL’S WILDEST COMEDY FESTIVAL MEMORIES

The Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow is on at The Palais this Wednesday, hosted by Urzila Carlson.

Behind the scenes at the shoot, Wil Anderson talks up Egg Boy (real name: Will Connolly) as “Australian of the Year” after what he did to the back of Senator Fraser Anning’s head with an egg.

Wil Anderson, Hughesy, Joel Creasey, Tommy Little, Dilruk Jayasinha, Judith Lucy, Anne Edmonds, Tom Gleeson, Becky Lucas, Rhys Nicholson, in black tie finery in a rock ‘n roll setting (Espy) with comedy heritage. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Rising star Becky Lucas guarantees Egg Boy will be “getting laid for the rest of his life.”

Hughesy tells an old story of being ousted by a fellow presenter on a community radio show who told Dave: “You’ll never work in radio again!”

Joel Creasey quizzes him: “Is that your real hair, Hughesy?”

Rhys Nicholson wears a black velvet ball gown with a traditional tux top as a nod to Brodaway star Billy Porter’s Oscars outfit and asks our photographer Nicole Cleary: “What do you want our faces to be doing?” Fierce! comes the answer.

“Tommy Little don’t be creepy with your hands!” yells a stylist.

Comedians ask Little about his adventure to the Antarctica where he ran an ice marathon with his mates Campbell Brown, Justin Quill and Lach Spark. “It was cold,” says Little.

Judith Lucy asks: “Am I smiling enough?” The music comes on, she says: “I’ve turned 50, I’m not dancing.”

Wil Anderson, Hughesy, Joel Creasey, Tommy Little, Dilruk Jayasinha, Judith Lucy, Anne Edmonds, Tom Gleeson, Becky Lucas, Rhys Nicholson, in black tie finery in a rock ‘n roll setting (Espy) with comedy heritage. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Dilruk Jayasinha talks about Hawthorn’s chances of making the finals without injured ball-magnet Tom Mitchell.

Anne Edmonds says: “At least I get to look a little bit hot this time. Last time I was dressed in equestrian wear. So this is nice.”

Tom Gleeson is asked which comedian he’d like to be for a day and he replies nonchalantly: “I wouldn’t wanna be any other comedian right now — nobody else is going as well as I am.”

As the party concludes, Lucas stands talking to Herald Sun as her comedy colleagues file out. “Wil Anderson, Dilruk, Tommy all just stuck their fingers up at me,” she says.
“I’m so beloved in this community.”

Nicholson surveys the scene and declares: “We did it guys — we changed comedy.”

SEE: Melbourne International Comedy Festival, starts Wed until Apr22. comedyfestival.com.au

WHAT THEY WORE:

Back row: Wil Anderson (Joe Black), Dilruk Jayasinha (Joe Black) and Tom Gleeson (Anthony Squires). Middle row: Dave Hughes (Jack London), Becky Lucas (Alin Le Kal dress/Anton earrings), Rhys Nicholson (Silvana Tedesco), Anne Edmonds (Silvana Tedesco gown/Stephanie Browne hair piece). Bottom row: Tommy Little (Joe Black), Judith Lucy (Craig Braybrook), Joel Creasey (Calibre). Shoes: by Edward Meller and Bared. Stylist: Rachel Dennis.

@joeylightbulb