LOLZ: The 10 Must-See Shows At This Year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival
As the Melbourne International Comedy Festival continues to keep us loling through April, deciding which comedians to check out can become a bit of a minefield.
So with literally thousands of shows rolling out across the fest, we’ve compiled a handy list of acts you absolutely need to catch before it ends later this month.
Here are Punkee’s 10 must-see acts to catch this MICF:
Zoë Coombs Marr
Bossy Bottoms
While no stranger to the comedy circuit, Zoë has spent most of her recent career hiding inside the exterior of a toxic dude bro called Dave. This will be her first show playing herself in six years and get ready to fall in love with her.
This insanely clever show is incredibly meta, a feast of stripped back, bare-bones comedy that will stay with you long after the curtain closes. Grab tickets here.
Nath Valvo
Show Pony
Nath has been a staple of the festival for yonks but his new show is a step above and will have you in tears from the constant stream of lols. The theme of the show surrounds the ‘Yes’ vote and the new nuptial pressure that he and his partner now feel. It’s just a bloody sensationally tight show from start to end. Grab tickets here.
Helen Bidou
Enter The Spinnaker Lounge
If you are only going to see one MICF show this season, make it this one. Tbh, I cannot recall a time in my life where I have laughed more.
Introduced to our lives via ABC’s Get Krack!n, imagine Anne Edmond’s creation as the deranged lovechild of Kath & Kim, with a heavy mix of that inappropriate aunt often exiled from family gatherings. All I can say is: GIVE. HELEN. HER. OWN. TV SHOW. NOW PLS. Grab tickets here.
Tom Walker
Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk
For those that like their comedy weird, absurd and 100 percent unhinged, this show is for you. Walker has paved his own unique path in comedy for his clever but often just fucking off chops skits and bits. His new show Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk is ludicrously funny. Grab tickets here.
Demi Lardner
I Love Skeleton
Speaking of weird, Demi’s surrealist and strange comedy game is on point this festival and will have you in fits of lols for all the wrong reasons. Come for the perfect impersonations of ya nan but stay for the book full of beards and 50 Centaur graphics. Grab tickets here.
James Veitch
Game Face
If you like your jokes slightly more on the sophisticated side but still dank AF, then British comedian and famous TED talker James Veitch is for you. His hilarious slideshow of personal owns against the establishment is so petty but so perfect. Grab tickets here.
Celia Pacquola
All Talk
Celia is an Aussie treasure on the comedy circuit. In my eyes, she can do no wrong. BUT it helps that her 2018 show is just some bloody amazing comedy that’s full of wonderful storytelling. A staple of any good MICF must-see list tbh. Grab them tickets here.
Damien Power
Violent Chaos Anyone?
Power is an Aussie comic with a strong political conscious. His show will have you in absolute stitches as he serves up a historical timeline of the downfall of Western civilisation with a side of classic dad lols. Please BYO ‘boob apron’ and tongs. Grab your tickets here.
Rose Matafeo
Horndog
This Kiwi comedian is a gift to us all and your new BFF. She is just delightful in every way. Her show is just too real for words and all women can relate. Rose will no doubt be busting out into even bigger venues in the coming years. Grab tickets here.
Steen Raskopoulos
Stay
Already the talk of the fest, Raskopoulos is getting rave reviews across the board for his show Stay, which has been heralded as a huge triumph in innovative storytelling. His performance is like nothing audience members have seen before. Get yo tickets here before he sells out, fam.
