Comedy festival comes to Carlton

This year the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, which runs until April 19, marks its 40th anniversary with its biggest ever event, taking in more than 800 shows.

The festival is marking its 40th anniversary this year with the staging of its biggest ever event – its 800 shows an increase from last year of more than 100.

According to Susan Provan AO, who has directed the festival since 1994, it grows organically each year, and its scale is what makes it exciting and “something people want to be a part of”.

“That's why artists flock from all over because there's a great sense of camaraderie. People want to go and see each other's shows, and they wind up striking creative partnerships,” she says.

For the audience it can be hard to poke a stick at the sheer volume of performers, but one approach is to go local.

North of the city, there are really beloved venues like The Motley Bauhouse in Carlton, which has got an incredible lineup of really interesting, new and exciting artists, Ms Provan says. They've got a great program.

“We've got a really big program we've created at Trades Hall in Carlton, so go and see stuff there!”

Among the international acts the director mentions are Malaysian “weirdo” Phil Wang, New York “toxic optimist” Zainab Johnson, English animal lover Josie Long and “delusional queer icon” Sam Nicoresti.

As for locals, there is a long list of well knowns and up-and-comers, including Denise Scott, Geraldine Hickey, Lizzy Hoo, Celia Pacquola, Lano & Woodley, Bron Lewis, Melanie Bracewell, Nazim Hussein, Ray O’Leory, Tom Cashman, Reuben Kaye and Chris Ryan.

A series of gala events includes Asian Allstars (April 4), Upfront female and non-binary comics (April 6) and The Big Four Oh celebration (April 13).

There are grand finals of high school Class Clowns (April 2); First Nations Deadly Funny (April 11) and emerging comic Raw Comedy (April 12) events.

Meanwhile, The Great Debate, at the Melbourne Town Hall (April 5), will examine the claim “That it was better in the olden days” while a documentary about the 50-year career of Rod Quantock is set to premiere at ACMI (April 16).

Over the school holidays Fed Square and the City Square will host the (Very) Big Laugh Out (April 3 – 18) with free all-ages programming, packed with “world-class street performers and the best stand-up, physical and musical comedy in da biz” kicking off from Good Friday.

Above all, Ms Provan urges people just to get along to the festival, and if in doubt, to see acts they haven’t heard of.

“Just take a punt. The tickets are not that expensive compared to big music concerts or big theatre shows - our average ticket price is somewhere around $35,” she says.

“You just never know what you're going to see – comedy is constantly surprising, which is great, and we need it at the moment!”

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs until April 19. •