Comedy

Sydney Comedy Festival 2016: Language no barrier for Korean comedy troupe the Ongals

ANDREW TAYLOR 7:27pm Korean comedy troupe the Ongals transcend language barriers with their brand of physical humour.

All India Bakchod, rising stars of Indian stand-up, come to Melbourne

John Bailey Some of the most fascinating acts at the recent Melbourne International Comedy Festival offered glimpses into cultures where stand-up is still in its infancy, from Malaysia's Kuah Jenhan to Russia's Igor Meerson to the founder of the form in Pakistan (and new Melbourne resident) Sami Shah.

Zoe Coombs Marr wins top Comedy Festival Award

CRAIG PLATT Comedian Zoe Coombs Marr has won the 2016 Melbourne Comedy Festival Barry Award.

Canberra student Lauren Duong wins Class Clowns at Melbourne International Comedy Festival

JIL HOGAN Tales of feeling like a 'fake Asian' and the difficulties of learning to speak Chinese have earned Lauren Duong the title of funniest teen comedy act in the country.

Sammy J and Randy have scandal planned for the 2016 Sydney Comedy Festival

LENNY ANN LOW Sammy J and Randy are opening a theme park. But first they have to break up.

Sydney Comedy Festival 2016 makes its move on the Town Hall

LENNY ANN LOW After 12 years, the Sydney Comedy Festival is expanding into the Sydney Town Hall.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Barry Award patron Barry Humphries surprises nominees

John Bailey Barry Humphries has made a surprise appearance at The Famous Spiegeltent to announce this year's Bazza contenders.

Sydney Comedy Festival Comics: How to be Funny

LENNY ANN LOW Sydney Comedy Festival comics unveil the mechanics of being funny in the age of social media.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Showbiz camp serves Hal Cruttenden well

STEPHANIE BUNBURY The British funnyman exploits his camp delivery to hilarious, and often biting, effect.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Hot Brown Honey a mix of politically-infused hip-hop and cabaret

KYLIE NORTHOVER An all-woman troupe of "black, brown and mixed beauties", Hot Brown Honey take burlesque back to its origins, using cabaret, theatre and, yes, some striptease.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Daniel Sloss lives, breathes and eats comedy

Stephanie Bunbury Sloss is a great believer in the comedian's right to talk about anything as long as it's funny; not for nothing is his show called Dark.

The best of the fest so far: What to see at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

ANNABEL ROSS The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is nearly halfway over already, but don't worry, there are still plenty of laughs to be had.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: David O'Doherty's Danger Is Everywhere a fun stand-up show for kids

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Cameron Woodhead A fun stand-up show for kids from Irish comedian David O'Doherty, the kind of person who makes toast in a space-suit.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Larry Dean confounds expectations

STEPHANIE BUNBURY Scottish comedian Larry Dean has a cheeky, boyish persona which lets him get away with some fairly lurid lines.

Comedian Sam Simmons returns to stage with new show Not a People Person

John Bailey Last year Sam Simmons won two of the world's top comedy gongs. This year the self-proclaimed "coriander of comedy" is back with extra spice.

Is nothing sacred? Comedian Tommy Tiernan goes walking on the wild side

STEPHANIE BUNBURY The Irish funny man is used to being at the centre of some unholy rows.

Comedian Garry Shandling dead at 66

Comedian Garry Shandling has died in a Los Angeles hospital at the age of 66, according to reports.

Sami Shah's second life as a comedian

John Bailey Comedian Sami Shah honed his act in the virtual world of Second Life before moving to Australia.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival takes you around the world

Eight acts to catch at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: polite Canadian Mae Martin changes minds through comedy

STEPHANIE BUNBURY Canadian comedian Mae Martin finds humour can change people's minds in ways she didn't expect.

Double trouble: Rhonda Burchmore and Trevor Ashley premiere Twins at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

ANNABEL ROSS The leggy theatre artist and the fabulous drag diva reunite.

Comedy boss Melissa McCarthy on the power of funny: "Use it and never apologise for it"

LENNY ANN LOW Comedy, Melissa McCarthy says, is power. Especially for young girls grappling with growing up.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: UKIP, Brexit show life is finally catching up with the comedic art of Pub Landlord Al Murray

STEPHANIE BUNBURY Imagine being a comedian who has successfully carved out a long-running character full of stupid opinions and bonhomie. Then imagine finding that the most talked-about person in public life is suddenly Nigel Farage.

What Geraldine Quinn had to say about her career

Sean Wilson Trained as an actor, wanting to be a musician, cabaret proved the perfect outlet for Geraldine Quinn.

US comic Jen Kirkman says being on stage is her 'safe place'

SARAH THOMAS Jen Kirkman overcame anxiety to become one of the US's sharpest and most honest comedians.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival inspires artists to make fun of art

Sonia Harford From Hogarth's satire to Duchamp's piss-take in a urinal called Fountain, art has often been funny – and turned in on itself.

Canberra Comedy Festival 2016: Tripod, Rich Hall and David O'Doherty return

CLARE COLLEY Three Australian comedians are in a room when an Irishman yelling on a megaphone and an American carrying a guitar walk in. It sounds like the beginnings of a joke, but it's what you get backstage at the Canberra Comedy Festival.