Laugh Out Loud: Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2015
Celebrating its 29th year, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is a long-standing fixture of the local festival scene. The annual autumn event boasts a huge program of stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performance, film, television, radio and visual arts. But as one of the three largest comedy festivals in the world (along with Edinburgh and Montreal’s Just for Laughs festival), and with dozens of acts across several venues, C&G has compiled a few of the highlights to help you navigate this 3 1/2 week event.
Kids and Family Shows
Looking for something to do with the kids these holidays? The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has a Funtime kids section. There are suitable shows for all ages. Master of munchkin madness Matty Grey has three shows for kids on between 2 April and 12 April. Book in for Mega Variety Kids Show, Grossed Out Game Show or Age-Less 3: Dreamweaver vs The Nightmare.
Matty Grey’s Mega Variety Kids Show
Next week this madcap show takes over the National Theatre for two days. With co-host Professor Kit-E-Kat and house band JEKYLL x JAMES, Mega Variety is Matty's demented and deranged version of a late-night chat show in the middle of the day. Do you like the sound of 75 minutes of magic, silliness, grossed out jokes, sight and sound gags and outright chaos? This show could be for you.
April 7-9 11:30am, National Theatre. Tickets: $15-$17
International
Arj Barker Get In my Head (USA)
Arj Barker is arguably Australia’s favourite American comedian. In recent years, he has spent more time in our country than his own and has come to understand our culture perhaps better than we understand it ourselves. His stand-up is both insightful and pointed, like a mind-reading thumb tack, if there was one of those.
26 March – 19 April, Melbourne Town Hall. Tickets: $36-$48
Paul Foot Hovercraft Symphony in Gammon # Major (UK)
Nominee Barry Award 2011 & 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Winner Best International Act 2014 Sydney & Perth Comedy Festivals - there’s no doubt Australia is head over heels for this glam-rock surrealist and his extreme mullet.
26 March-19 April, The Hi-Fi. Tickets: $27-$38