Melbourne comedy festival award nominations announced

They may no longer be called the Barry Awards, but the Melbourne comedy festival has announced the contenders for its top gongs. Here’s who is in the running to be named best of the fest.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival have announced nominations for its top awards on a tumultuous day for the annual month-long event.

The comedy festival this morning dumped Barry Humphries’ name from the Barry Award for best show following his comments to The Spectator, in which he insinuated transgender people practised a form of “self mutilation.”

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Nominees for the newly named 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award (formerly the Barry Award) for the most outstanding show are Australian comedians Anne Edmonds (What’s Wrong With You?), Cassie Workman (Giantess), Geraldine Hickey (Things Are Going Well), Nath Valvo (I’m Happy For You) and UK comedians James Acaster (Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999) and Tom Allen for Absolutely.

Transgender comedian Cassie Workman received a most outstanding show award nomination for Giantess. Picture: David Caird

Workman is the hot favourite.

She is a former Barry Award nominee in 2013 while still performing as man and this year’s show deals with her transitioning process.

It was awarded five stars from Herald Sun reviewer Patrick Horan.

This is Anne Edmonds’ third nomination for the festival’s top award for most outstanding show.

Nath Valvo and Geraldine Hickey have never previously been nominated for the top gong.

Nominees for the 2019 Best Newcomer Award are Blake Freeman’s There’s Something There, Dan Rath’s Bubble Bath, Nina Oyama’s Needs a Lift and Oliver Coleman’s Poolside.

Oliver Coleman has been nominated for two top comedy festival awards for his show, Poolside. Picture: Supplied

Coleman is also on the shortlist for The Golden Gibbo, an award named after the late Lynda

Gibson that is awarded to a local, independent show that “pursues the artist’s idea more than it pursues commercial gain”.

Other nominees for The Golden Gibbo are Game Boys, Lauren Bok, Margot Tanjutco, Neal Portenza and Joshua Ladgrove and Patrick Collins.

The Pinder Prize (named after festival co-founder Harold Pinder) is going to support two performers making their Edinburgh Fringe debuts in August: Sam Taunton’s Straight From The Shoulder and Steph Tisdell, who will be appearing in The Aboriginal Allstars show along with Andy Saunders and Kevin Kropinyeri.

Extra awards yet to be announced will include The People’s Choice Award for the show most popular of the festival based on ticket sales, The Directors’ Choice Award, and The Piece of Wood, selected by comedians.

Award winners will be announced at 1pm this Saturday, April 20.

The 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival closes on Sunday.

FULL LIST OF 2019 MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVAL AWARD NOMINATIONS

Melbourne comedian Nath Valvo is among nominees for most outstanding show.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for the most outstanding show:

• Anne Edmonds, What’s Wrong With You?
• Cassie Workman, Giantess
• Geraldine Hickey, Things Are Going Well
• James Acaster, Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 (UK)
• Nath Valvo, I’m Happy For You
• Tom Allen, Absolutely (UK)

Stand-up comedian Blake Freeman is among the contenders for best newcomer.

Best Newcomer Award:

• Blake Freeman, There’s Something There
• Dan Rath, Bubble Bath
• Nina Oyama, Needs a Lift
• Oliver Coleman, Poolside

Lauren Bok has been nominated for the Golden Gibbo award, which recognises local comedians with independent shows.

The Golden Gibbo:

• Game Boys, Game Boys Cinematic Universe
• Lauren Bok, Rock Out With Your Bok Out
• Margot Tanjutco, Vanity Fair Enough
• Neal Portenza and Joshua Ladgrove, Neal Portenza is Joshua Ladgrove
• Oliver Coleman, Poolside
• Patrick Collins, Mime Consultant