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The best heckles, riskiest jokes and strangest moments from this year’s comedy festival

After a month packed with shows, our reviewers have come together to pick out the best (and most memorable) moments from this year’s comedy festival.

  • Donna Demaio, Guy Webster, Hannah Francis, Lefa Singleton Norton, Mikey Cahill, Sonia Nair, Tyson Wray and Vyshnavee Wijekumar

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Jean Smart as Deborah Vance.

It’s been lauded as one of the best comedies, but Hacks is about to get darker

The third season ended on a note so toxic it surprised even its co-stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder.

  • Michael Idato
Color Theories is on at Max Watt’s until April 20.

The good, the weird and the unmissable from this festival’s final week

From absurdist scribbling in a notebook to a show that digs into the dark recesses of the internet, and ChatGPT acting as matchmaker, here are our latest reviews.

  • Cher Tan, Donna Demaio, Hannah Francis, John Bailey, Lefa Singleton Norton, Sonia Nair, Tyson Wray, Vyshnavee Wijekumar and Nell Geraets
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‘I guess I can’t ever do comedy again’: New mum Becky Lucas on the medical emergency that changed her

Stand-up star Becky Lucas worried she wouldn’t be able to write jokes again.

  • Nick Dent
Torres in a scene from Fantasmas.

The letter Q is lonely and purple is sassy: What can we learn from fonts and colours?

Former Saturday Night Live writer and cult comedy favourite Julio Torres has brought his newest experimental work to Australia.

  • Will Cox
The Booth Variety Spectacular & Formal Apology Hour! is on at Arts Centre Melbourne until April 20.

Ghosts, lies, and conspiracy theories: This festival has it all

From a show where musicals meet PowerPoint, to a trip back in time, here are our latest reviews.

  • Cher Tan, Donna Demaio, Elizabeth Flux, Guy Webster, Hannah Francis, John Bailey, Lefa Singleton Norton, Nell Geraets, Sonia Nair, Tyson Wray and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
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Roo do you think you are? Comedian Steph Broadbridge strikes a pose.

It’s the comedy show Raygun didn’t want you to see. But is it any good?

Stephanie Broadbridge’s Breaking: The Musical had to overcome some legal challenges to make it to the Comedy Festival, where it’s just started its run. This is what the crowd can expect.

  • Karl Quinn
Broden Kelly’s Yabusele is on until April 20.

The best, the strangest, and the most daring of the comedy festival so far

From an Aunty Donna star to a performer who taps into Joan of Arc, here are our latest reviews of the comedy festival.

  • Cher Tan, Donna Demaio, Guy Webster, Hannah Francis, John Bailey, Karl Quinn, Lefa Singleton Norton, Mikey Cahill, Sonia Nair, Tyson Wray and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
Comedians Vidya Rajan and Mel McGlensey who have a show called ‘Greg’.

If you know a Greg or are a Greg then this show is for you

Greg is an hour of absurdist sketch, improv and character comedy, taking as its starting point a pair of comedians’ fascination for a completely ordinary name.

  • Will Cox
MICF 2025

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2025

This year’s laugh-fest has kicked off, with over 1000 performers stepping up to the mic. Here, our writers take a closer look.

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/topic/stand-up-comedy-1mmr