Australian comedians to see at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
There’s no shortage of big-name Australian comedians at this year’s comedy festival, but scratch the surface and you’ll find some other gems guaranteed to bring big laughs.
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Australia’s comedy pool is large, and it comes to the fore at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
And while many will opt to see the names already big on our TV screens and airwaves — think Dave Hughes, Wil Anderson , Kitty Flanagan, Joel Creasey, Charlie Pickering, Peter Hellier, Tom Gleeson and Tommy Little — you don’t have to dig too deep to find other homegrown talent set to make waves at this year’s comedy festival.
From established stand-up comics to those on the comeback trail and a bounty of up-and-comers, here’s our pick of the must-see Australian shows from this year’s line-up.
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RHYS NICHOLSON
Sharper than a needle in a strawberry, the Joan Rivers-inspired Rhys Nicholson reckons it’s really only about three years ago he became OK at comedy.
OUR RHYS NICHOLSON REVIEW ★★★★
It was at that point the dapper, bespectacled Nicholson, incidentally, earned a Barry Award nomination.
“Comedy nerds are usually mentally ill,” he says. “Music nerds are usually cool.”
Rhys Nicholson, Nice People Nice Things Nice Situations, March 28-April 21, The Victoria Hotel Banquet Room.
BECKY LUCAS
Razor-sharp observational comic Becky Lucas managed to get herself banned from Twitter since last year’s comedy festival for making a joke about chopping off the Prime Minister’s head.
She says Twitter’s lack of humour proved annoying.
The droll Lucas touched on moving in with her boyfriend last year — “we could be together for the rest of our lease” — and returns with another wise crack.
Becky Lucas, Um, Support Me?!, March 28-April 21, Swiss Club & Melbourne Town Hall.
DILRUK JAYASINHA
The Sri Lankan-born Aussie has called Melbourne home since his university days and after landing a job as an accountant, his unceremonious firing, in hindsight, couldn’t have come at a better time — right as his stand-up career was kicking off.
OUR DILRUK JAYASINHA REVIEW ★★★½
HOW LOSING WEIGHT CHANGED DILRUK’S JOKES
No longer feeling the need to get obliterated on the booze to fit in, Jayasinha now has money for scented candles and Aesop skin cleansers and his star has only risen since featuring on ABC TV’s award-winning Utopia.
Dilruk Jayasinha, Cheat Day(s), March 28-April 21, The Victoria Hotel Banquet Room.
DAMIEN POWER
A three-time Barry Award nominee, the cynical Toowoomba-born Damien Power pulls no punches, once comparing his relationship with the audience to 13 years of stale sex — you’ve gotta keep it interesting.
A master of character comedy, Power explores the culture of narcissism in his new show, Man Puts His Dreams In A Sock, where he highlights how society dictates our dreams and desires.
Damien Power, Man Puts His Dreams In A Sock, March 28-April 21. Melbourne Town Hall Cloak Room.
TOM GLEESON
Well known in the past year for his next-level take-downs of contestants on ABC’s Hard Quiz, and celebrities on the show’s Hard Chat segment, Gleeson can rip through hecklers as quick as they come.
He’s added five more shows to bring his run to 15, which could mean more than 18,000 fans — or hecklers — attending this year.
Tom Gleeson, Joy, March 27-April 7, Comedy Theatre.
HANNAH GADSBY
Two years after signing off on a winning note with the raw and deeply personal Nanette, the Barry Award-winning Tasmanian is back with Douglas.
OUR HANNAH GADSBY REVIEW ★★★★½
Gadsby’s powerful stories of homophobia struck a chord last time round before she bid a temporary farewell with the Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Hannah Gadsby, Douglas, March 27-April 7, Hamer Hall & Arts Centre Playhouse.
PAUL MCDERMOTT AND GATESY
Two of the nation’s best-known singing comics from two of the best-known trios — Paul McDermott of the Doug Anthony All Stars and Steven Gates of Tripod fame — are combining their harmonies in a special two-show run.
It’s been billed as songs of beauty, plus uplifting prattle and moments of self-deprecating wonder.
Paul McDermott & Gatesy, Go Solo, April 13, Melbourne Recital Centre.
NICK CODY
He’s the likeable larrikan, the red-bearded loose unit who was once told upon entering fatherhood he would change.
Not so — “beer is still delicious and he is still a d---head”.
As one of only four Aussies to have made the cut to appear on Conan in the US, Cody makes his return with Old Mate.
Nick Cody, Old Mate, March 28-April 21, ACMI Beyond, Fed Square.
IVAN ARISTEGUIETA
Reeling off the funnies to anything beyond a slow clap in your mother tongue is a feat in itself.
So for Venezuelan-born Ivan Aristeguieta to transfer his gift of the gag to a second language for the past six years in his adopted home is something else.
Last year he brought bulls, balls and bravado to stage.
This time he ponders life at 40, or “The Fourth Floor” as it’s known in Venezuela.
Ivan Aristeguieta, The Fourth Floor, March 28-April 21, Athenaeum Theatre Two.
TOM WALKER
One of the standouts of last year’s Opening Night Comedy Allstar Show with his impression of a baby’s tantrem and his “Oh yuck, get out” surprises from the “Rude Bag”, randomness is de rigeur for this absurd man’s shows.
Expect plenty of movement and good times from the 2017 Barry Award nominee and 2016 Best Newcomer.
Tom Walker, Very Very, March 28-April 21, ACMI Studio, Fed Square.
RONNY CHIENG
Chinese-Malaysian, later via Singapore and the US, honourary Aussie Ronny Chieng is back for a limited three shows with Tone Issues.
Since his university days in Melbourne, the unapologetic Chieng’s stand-up star has soared abroad, going on to score a role in Crazy Rich Asians and as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in the US.
Ronny Chieng, Tone Issues, Postponed until July 6. Arts Centre Melbourne.
KITTY FLANAGAN
OK granted she is one the aforementioned names who pops up frequently on TV, namely on the ABC’s brilliant Utopia.
But since bursting on to our screens more than two decades ago in Full Frontal, Kitty Flanagan has cemented herself as a legend of Australian comedy and this show deserves special mention.
OUR KITTY FLANAGAN REVIEW FROM 2018 ★★★★★
Following a sold-out five-star run with Smashing at last year’s comedy festival, the 49-year-old is back for a limited seven-show encore.
Edgy, but super slick, the hour rolls through everything from internet porn and her mother’s online search history to Cirque du Soleil’s esoteric narratives.
Kitty Flanagan, Smashing, April 4-20, The Palms at Crown Casino.
LANO AND WOODLEY
After a 12-year hiatus the slapstick supremos made a return last year with the Fly.
Such was the popularity of their comeback show, the duo is bringing the nonsensical plot-deviating take on a play about the flying Wright brothers back for a second run in 2019.
OUR LANO AND WOODLEY REVIEW FROM 2018 ★★★★½
Arm doors and cross check, the winners of last year’s People’s Choice Award are ready for their return flight.
Lano & Woodley, Fly, April 16-21, Arts Centre Melbourne Playhouse.
ZOE COOMBS MARR
A rising star with a bullet next to her name, Zoe Coombs Marr returns with the popular Bossy Bottom from 2018.
Three years ago, she layered on the neckbeard as her crass male alter-ego “Dave” to win the Barry Award and earn a nomination for Best Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.
Back for a limited encore season, she once joked about her penchant for carpentry as a 10-year-old: “I may have been in the closet, but I was also installing shelves in there.”
Zoe Coombs Marr, Bossy Bottom, April 9-April 14, The Westin.
OTHER AUSSIE HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Aaron Chen, P--- Off (Just Kidding)
The Taiwan-born Sydneysider brings unpredictability to the fore, with a softness sugar-coating a twisted side.
OUR Q&A AND REVIEW WITH AARON CHEN ★★★½
Amos Gill, Almost Famos
The Adelaide ex-brekky host returns home, having made a name for himself in the US as Jim Jefferies’ favourite Aussie opening act.
Danielle Walker
The sweet, friendly tones and awkwardly anxious giggle butter a crowd up to aplomb as Townsville-born Danielle Walker intermittently reveals her dark side — “actually really dark”, she says — to deliver a knock-out dirty punchline. She won last year’s Best Newcomer Award.
Geraldine Hickey, Things Are Going Well
A confident conversationalist, the cheeky and deadpan Geraldine Hickey does things like mushroom hunting these days, despite not really eating them.
OUR Q&A AND REVIEW WITH GERALDINE HICKEY ★★★★
Fiona O’Loughlin, Addresses The Nation
Brutally self-deprecating and one of the queens of Australian comedy, Fiona O’Loughlin returns for a two-week stretch to call out who’s full of the most bulls--t in 2019.
O’LOUGHLIN MOVES ON FROM PERSONAL DEMONS + OUR REVIEW ★★★½
Mel Buttle, Welcome Aboard
Mel Buttle dodges the usual topics of politics and uplifting messages to take aim at her two relationship break-ups in the past year and her dog having to have its toe removed.
Dane Simpson, Origins
His dad is the only guy who’s ever heckled him but this Deadly Funny alumnusis unperterbed. After sold-out shows across the country, the rapidly rising Indigenous funnyman and Walgett’s favourite son is back.
Judith Lucy, Judith Lucy Vs Men
Celebrating or bemoaning singledom again at 50, one of Australia’s national comedy treasures lets the audience decide whether she should hang up her vagina for good.
Matt Stewart, Bone Dry
Having spent the majority of the past year off the booze, the ginger-bearded Matt Stewart lampoons masculinity, culture and politics with his trademark dry wit.
Nath Valvo, I’m Happy For You
Feeling the pressure to tie the knot since last year’s marriage equality vote, sassy show pony Nath Valvo is ready to unleash his next hour of rapid-fire quips.
Anne Edmonds, What’s Wrong With You?
A nominee for the Barry Award in each of the past three years, Anne Edmonds is one of Australia’s most exciting stand-up, character and banjo-playing comedians, also appearing as the brilliant Helen Bidou at last year’s festival.
OUR REVIEW OF ANNE EDMONDS ★★★
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Luke Heggie, Have That
If you’re neither a mechanic nor a toddler and you still wear overalls, Luke Heggie’s show is not for you. Poking fun at middle-class Australia, his only audience request is for no lowbreeds.
OUR Q&A AND REVIEW WITH LUKE HEGGIE ★★★★½
Alex Williamson, Sin On My Face
His YouTube videos sticking it to bogan Aussies went viral and really launched this bloke, racking up some 35 million views. Alex Williamson is back on home soil after six comedy festivals in the past year.
Sam Taunton, Straight From The Shoulder
Last year, Sam Taunton delved into a goldmine of material from a comedy tour of India. This time round, it’s his father’s 1988 country music album title, Straight From The Shoulder, he adopts for his own show.
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