Melbourne International Comedy Festival bringing the laughs in 2023
Buckle in for the funniest time of the year this Autumn with The Melbourne International Comedy Festival
(Photo: Jemma van Zaanen)
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is roaring back for its 37th year from 29 March until 23 April with its most vivacious lineup yet.
This year’s festival features hundreds of shows throughout the state, from acts at the Geelong Library to Fed Square in the heart of Melbourne.
Audiences can expect outrageous comedy from homegrown and international comedians to breathtaking circus and cabaret acts.
With 600 shows to choose from, there’s something for everyone.
To kick off the season, Aussie comedian Hannah Gadsby is hosting Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow on 29 March . A mix of comedians will take the stage to set the vibe for the month ahead.
While tickets may be sold out for the opening extravaganza, you can catch the show broadcast live on ABC from 9 pm.
Does viral sensation Matt Storer tickle your fancy? He’ll hit up Mantra on Russell with Hot Nonsense from 30 March – 9 April for a musical comedy concert chosen by the audience.
The highly anticipated Deadly Funny National Grand Final will return on 15 March, where Australia’s top First Nations comedians will take centre stage at The Forum.
The lineup will feature “2023 national finalists and special guest performances” and the “freshest, fiercest, funniest comedians and yarn-spinners from the oldest culture on earth”, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival said in a statement.
Or, if cabaret is more your style, check out Reuben Kaye’s The Kaye Hole. Kay describes the show as “the hottest late-night ticket in town, where the riskiest and most diverse acts of the Festival let loose dripping in sweat and backed by a live band”.
Whatever you’re in the mood for, there are bound to be unmissable shows for you. Plenty of events are happening for those who don’t want to venture to the CBD but are still looking for a laugh.
Over the next month, suburbs like Werribee, Broadmeadows and Dandenong will transform into comedy hubs as part of the Festival’s Neighbourhood Sessions program. Acts such as London-based Bob Franklin and Aussie funnyman Daniel Connell will bring the laughs to Kingston Arts Centre, Moorabbin on 31 March.
(Photo: Jemma van Zaanen)
With hundreds of acts from stand-up to theatre to family-friendly fun, there’s something for every Melburnian to enjoy.
For more information, click here: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2023