Comedy

Raw Comedy 2015 winner: Angus Gordon wins national comedy competition

CRAIG PLATT Comedians as a community tend to be supportive of each other, but this year's Raw Comedy national final winner Angus Gordon took things to a new level by using his brief victory speech to urge the crowd to see fellow comedian Aaron Gocs.

Western Edge Youth Arts production Iago explores raunch culture with rapid-fire dialogue

John Bailey A new adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello puts the issues of race, violence and sex explored in the play in contemporary perspective.

Luisa Omielan among the best of Upfront women's comedy at Melbourne International Comedy Festival

John Bailey The 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival sees the 20th anniversary of the all-female extravaganza that is Upfront, and the line-up of almost two dozen boasts names that have been the word-of-mouth sensations of the 2015 festival.

Comedy Festival review: Rich Hall rewards in well-mined seam, despite digital derailing

KARL QUINN The audience matters to Rich Hall, but sometimes it can get in the way of the show.

Comments

Marvellous

12th Man Billy Birmingham on Richie Benaud

NICK GALVIN Billy Birmingham, the performer who launched a million dodgy Richie Benaud impersonations, has paid tribute to the man who launched his comedy career.

Comedy Festival review: Chaser duo Andrew Hansen and Chris Taylor's In Conversation with Lionel Corn brings satirical bite

CRAIG PLATT Satirical shows are scant. So it's good Chaser stars Hansen and Taylor bring satirical bite with their debut festival show.

Comedians declare ceasefire as they join forces with musicians for Mirabel Foundation

BEAU DONELLY At a sticky inner-city concert hall tonight, the charitable side of Melbourne's International Comedy Festival will be on show.

Dave O'Neil: It's Not Cool – don't judge a book by its cover dude

Dave O'Neil Now that Easter has just passed, I'd like to talk a little bit about Jesus.

Meet the Sydney Comedy Festival's rising stars Penny Greenhalgh, Madeleine Stewart, Cyrus Bezyan and Paige Hally

LENNY ANN LOW They scribble, talk lost limbs, ice dance and pretend to be a ghost. Meet four emerging comedians who are must-sees at this year's Sydney Comedy Festival.

Penny Greenhalgh makes her audience feel they are in on the joke

LENNY ANN LOW Audience participation is a key part of shows by the clown-school graduate.

Happiest artist

Anh Do paints big lives for his first solo exhibition at Olsen Irwin Gallery

ANDREW TAYLOR When his muse comes knocking, comedian, writer and now artist Anh Do is quick to pick up his paintbrush.

Comments

Comedy Festival review: Aunty Donna's antics subvert expectations

CRAIG PLATT The show runs off the rails a bit towards the end, but there's plenty of fun to be had.

'I really went to bat against you'

Louis CK says he once hindered Jimmy Fallon's career

Patrick Kevin Day Louis C.K. tells Jimmy Fallon he fought to keep him off a US comedy sketch show.

Comments

Stand up stalwart

Comedy Festival review: Arj Barker's gags go down well

Dylan Leach Arj Barker delivers a safe, standard but still tight and funny act full of well-told, well-timed observations at the Comedy Festival.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Mighty Boosh star Noel Fielding finds young people 'square'

KYLIE NORTHOVER British comedian Noel Fielding prefers things with a bit of make-believe.

Meshel Laurie

Why Instagram is good for comedy, according to comedian Meshel Laurie

MICHAEL LALLO Once, photography was banned and selling merchandise was tacky. But things are very different now in stand-up comedy, reveals Meshel Laurie.

Comments

Comedy Festival review: Tessa Waters' Womanz turns the female body into a giggle generator

Cameron Woodhead Dance doesn’t usually get much of a look-in at the Comedy Festival, but Tessa Waters changes that with her mischievous, thoroughly disarming comic creation.

Comedy Festival: RAW Comedy final to be hosted by Adam Hills

John Bailey Adam Hills will host the national final of RAW Comedy, one of the fiercest comedy competitions in the country.

Comedy Festival review: Motormouth Mark Watson's flaws are fabulous

Rebecca Harkins-Cross Bristol-born Mark Watson’s neuroticism is central to his stage persona. Relaying his insecurities at breakneck speed, his voice cracks comically under the strain.

Comedy Festival review: Akmal shows sincerity is the purest form of comedy

ALISTAIR WALSH From the moment Akmal walks onto the stage he builds a very personal rapport with the crowd. We all know him from TV, but in his show he constantly works to be relateable and genuine.