The Melbourne International Comedy festival is about to begin, and ACM has compiled all the important information about the event, while two local comedians have also given their inside tips on the madcap month ahead.
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When:
The festival will return from March 29 to April 23, 2023.
Key dates for people to put in their calendar will be the Comedy Gala, which is screening on Wednesday March 29 from 9pm on ABC TV, and will be hosted by comedian Luke McGregor.
Australian comedy legend Hannah Gadsby will be hosting the Opening Night Allstars Supershow, broadcast by ABC TV from 9pm on Wednesday April 5.
Where:
The festival will be taking place across more than 140 performance spaces around Melbourne.
The full list of venues can be found here, and includes locations from all corners of Melbourne from Werribee to Rosebud and Geelong to Ringwood.
What:
In addition to the Gala and Allstars Supershow, many of the festival's popular events will be back in 2023.
Australia's largest open mic competition - RAW comedy will be returning, as will the finals of Indigenous competition Deadly Funny and teenage event Class Clowns.
While the 33rd annual great debate, comedy up late and Moosehead benefit will also feature during the festival.
Who:
The program for this year's event has more than 600 shows with a range of local and international talent.
The full list of performers can be found here and some Australian highlights include former top award winners Sam Campbell, Geraldine Hickey and Rhys Nicholson.
While numerous celebrated international comedians such as David O'Doherty, Lara Ricote and Daniel Fernandes will also be gracing Melbourne stages.
But, why listen to our suggestions when you can hear from an expert, Canberra comedian Chris Ryan told ACM her top picks for this year's festival were Sarah Gaul, Steph Broadbridge and Billy Stiles.
As well as, of course, her own show - Busy, which according to Ms Ryan is her best yet.
The comedian, who turns 50 this year, said the show was about reflecting on her life and what makes her happy.
"I didn't want to get back to the back end of my life and just be okay with it, I want it to be awesome," she said.
Ms Ryan said she wanted the show to explore "universal thoughts" everyone has about their life, but might not share with others.
While people may appear to be happy, Ms Ryan believes there are many who are not living the life they want and the show aims to reflect their experiences.
Ms Ryan, who honed her comedy craft in Canberra, said it was special to come to the festival as a performer or audience member.
If people from outside Melbourne are considering the trip, Ms Ryan encouraged them to stay for a few days and enjoy everything the festival has to offer.
She said the event was also a great opportunity to meet new people, and engage with other audience members between shows.
"A lot of Australians know the Melbourne Comedy Festival, it's like the mecca for comedy," she said.
"It's sort of like a playdate for adults with a brain."
Victorian comedian Ethan Cavanagh is also excitedly anticipating the festival.
"It's comedy Christmas, it's the best time of the year," he told ACM.
Mr Cavanagh was brought up in the western Victorian towns of Ararat and Ballarat, but since moving to Melbourne, he and his comedy partner Sweeney Preston have fast become festival staples.
This year they will be performing a comedy wine tasting show In pour taste, where every ticket comes with five 60ml wine samples.
The comedy duo is also joined by a wine expert who takes the audience through the technical part of the show while being heckled by the duo.
Mr Cavanagh said the show, which recently won an award at the Adelaide Fringe, was about taking away a lot of the "wank" that can come with wine, and teaching people about what's in their glass.
"We like people to leave with at least five dinner party facts," he said.
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Mr Cavanagh's top tips for the festival were Jett Bond, who performs a 'wild' set with a plastic bag on his head, and Silly Sibling Shenanigans who also hail from Ballarat.
For more information about the Melbourne international comedy festival, visit https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2023
