MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES MORE COMEDIANS
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES MORE INTERNATIONAL COMEDIANS & SPECIAL EVENT HOSTS
More international artists have been announced for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival which kicks off in just 8 weeks on 26 March.
Straight from the UK and exclusive to Melbourne comes One Man Musical by award-winning comedy duo Flo & Joan. Following sell-out runs in London’s West End, One Man Musical is about a very renowned and real-life icon of the musical theatre world who finally turns the spotlight onto the one story he’s yet to tell – his own. Starring George Fouracres (HBO’s The Franchise, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Hamlet) as ‘the man’ and Flo & Joan as ‘the band’ and directed by Georgie Staight (Operation Mincemeat) the show will run for the full Festival season at Arts Centre Melbourne.
Also from the UK; trail-blazer Paul Foot returns with his most personal and surprising show yet; and New Order – one show featuring three of the UK’s hottest comedians – Amy Annette (winner Funny Women Award 2022), Emmanuel Sonubi (nominee 2023 Best Show, nominee 2022 Best Newcomer, Edinburgh Comedy Awards) and Paddy Young (winner Chortle Awards 2024 Best Newcomer).
From the USA and for the first time in Australia, comes Julio Torres with his acclaimed, absurdist comedy hour Color Theories. Having written for SNL, Julio comes hot off directing and starring with Tilda Swinton, Greta Lee and the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA in the acclaimed Problemista (Netflix). Also an Australian premiere, the raw and raucous Desiree Burch (USA/UK), who brings a childlike wonder and crone-like wit to the middle-aged experiences of losing sleep, relevance, knee cartilage, youth and illusions.
Adding to our comics from the subcontinent; Rahul Subramanian returns to Australia with his stand-up show, Who are You? fresh off a sold-out run at Edinburgh Fringe; and “one of the hottest talents to emerge from the Indian comedy scene” (Deadant, UK) Sumukhi Suresh comes with her Australian premiere of Hoemonal a show about the quirks and pitfalls of modern romance while battling hormones and the fear of dying alone.
These artists join more than one hundred Internationals and three hundred Australian comics who have already gone on sale.
Beyond the stellar program of individual shows, the Festival features returning flagship events filled with star-studded line-ups:
The red carpet is rolled out for the biggest nights of Australia’s comedy calendar, The Gala, proudly supporting Oxfam Australia and the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow – with Mel Buttle and Michael Hing respectively in charge of hosting duties
The Gala is sold out, with limited tickets remaining for the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow. Both events will be recorded live at the Palais Theatre and screen later on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Other special events include; the 35th Annual Great Debate; Upfront – this year, hosted by Becky Lucas – a night of stereotype-smashing comedy as the funniest and boldest female and non-binary artists take to the stage; and the Asian Allstars Gala hosted by Takashi Wakasugi (Japan) and featuring a huge lineup of visiting artists and locals from South and SouthEast Asia.
The national grand finals for the Festival’s development programs are always a great way to support new talent and an excellent opportunity to see the next big thing. This year, the Deadly Funny National Grand Final will be hosted by Elaine Crombie and the Class Clowns National Grand Final by Sez. After more than 60 events around the country, RAW Comedy will reveal the national winner for 2025. Always a highlight of the Festival, all National Grand Finals are on sale now.
The full program will be available as a lift out in The Age on Sunday 23 February.
The 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs from 26 March to 20 April.
For all tickets and program information, visit comedyfestival.com.au
About the Author
Andrew Bistak When he's not trying to save the world, Andrew enjoys travel (although loathes turbulence), going to the movies, reading and being a dad to his two dogs (and now twins) with his wife.
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