Anyone who’s been to a comedy festival – Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Montreal’s Just For Laughs – will tell you it’s not just about the humour on display.
“It’s busy and really vibey,” Brisbane Comedy Festival director Phoebe Meredith said.
“It’s a lot of fun. I like to watch people come out of one show and then buy tickets to another.”
Phoebe Meredith has directed the last seven Brisbane Comedy Festivals.Credit: Brisbane Comedy Festival
And with hundreds of comedians billed over a few weeks, audiences have the chance to get closer to crowd favourites and international headliners, while leaving the door open to discover new talent.
Queensland’s capital will soon be inundated with comedians and performers for the 2024 Brisbane Comedy Festival, which runs from April 26 to May 26.
This year’s program features 135 shows and 396 individual performers, playing the Brisbane Powerhouse, The Tivoli, The Princess Theatre and Fortitude Music Hall.
“We turn all our little event spaces [in the Powerhouse] into mini theatres and there’s always a lot of fun stuff to be found,” Meredith said.
You can make a night of it at the Brisbane Powerhouse, which has a bar and food options on site.Credit: Brisbane Comedy Festival
“You’ll find the next Mel Buttle or Joel Creasey ... and like Edinburgh Fringe, you can see a lot of shows in one night.”
Recognisable names from this year’s line-up include Fern Brady, Tom Ballard, Josh Thomas, Cameron James, Stephen K. Amos, Wil Anderson, Judith Lucy and Nina Oyama.
Asked for highlights of the 2024 festival, Meredith had these shows to recommend:
- Are You Pulling My Leg?, May 23, 24, 25 & 26
“I’m really excited for this show. It showcases some of Australia’s funniest artists with a disability or chronic illness, led by Madeleine Stewart. It will be fantastic to open up the stage to their stories.” - Queerstories, May 19
“This is a storytelling show curated by Maeve Marsden. It features LGBTQI+ comedians and storytellers, just telling a funny story.” - Frocking Hilarious, May 11
“It’s an all-female line-up hosted by Claire Hooper. So that’s great in and of itself, but the show actually raises funds for ActionAid, an NGO focused on women’s equality and opportunities in developing countries. It’s a line-up show, so it changes every year.” - The Debate, May 10
“This is another community fundraising event, for the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre. It’s an old-fashioned debate with two opposing sides and a wonderful moderator in Natalie Bochenski. It’s always a riot. Last year the topic was about whether we should be a republic, and it was on the same day as the [King’s] coronation.” - After Hours, May 4, 11, 18 & 25
“This is a late-night, variety show. We don’t know who is going to be on the line-up until the week of. It’s late-night, loose, and you might find stuff that’s a bit more naughty.”
Meredith, a former independent producer, has headed Brisbane’s comedy festival for seven years.
While a big part of the job is bringing international stars, she says fans shouldn’t miss emerging acts from Brisbane’s vibrant comedy community.
“I think there’s something about Queensland and Brisbane’s relaxed nature that really translates wonderfully on stage in the way that people tell stories,” she said.
“They’re very down to earth, and then there’s also a really strong improvisation and sketch comedy scene as well.”
But don’t let the buffet of comedians and shows to dine out on lull you into a false sense of security.
Spontaneity is both a blessing and a curse, and with shows starting to sell out, now’s a good time to take a closer look at the program.
Brisbane Comedy Festival runs from April 26 to May 26. Visit BCF for the full program, times and dates.