One of Melbourne’s most popular Singer Celebrant MCs, Veronica Lees-Amato (or “V”, as her comedy moniker) might be new to stand-up—but she’s no stranger to the stage. With a long and vibrant career entertaining crowds across all kinds of events, she brought her signature energy and charisma to the Hard Knock Knocks stage Respected, lively, and never short on sparkle, …
One of the most common questions asked by Hard Knock Knocks comedy students is “How much do stand-up comedians make?” It’s a valid question, but unfortunately one that is hard to answer. Firstly, unlike other jobs within The Arts, the ‘business of comedy‘ is not regulated by an Award rate. While the Australian Government’s Fair Work Ombudsman’s ‘Pay Guide – …
South African born Charné performed her debut stand-up comedy performance at the Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School in February, and as you can see she nailed it. Witty, sassy with humility to self criticise, Charné quickly won over the audience, becoming a favourite for the night. Charné perfomed alongside comedy greats, Bradford Oakes and Dave O’Neil, as well as returning …
(Updated June 16, 2026) Not all rooms are ‘open mic’. Many are curated, meaning you need to have your name ‘on the bill’ days or even weeks before getting up. So reach out (probably via Facebook) before popping down to the following comedy rooms and expecting to perform your ‘tight five‘. Or better still, create your own open mic comedy …
Episode 32 of This Week in Comedy brings hosts Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan together with guest Tony Rogers for a lively conversation about Australian comedy, filmmaking and the strange paths that turn small ideas into enduring screen projects. Rogers discusses How to Talk Australians: The Movie, explaining how the project grew from an earlier pilot and web series set …
Episode 31, hosted by Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan, welcomes veteran comedian Jack Levi, better known as the deadpan character Elliot Goblet. The conversation mixes career history, comedy news, personal anecdotes and spontaneous observational humour. From the opening exchange, the episode feels strongly influenced by Curb Your Enthusiasm: ordinary social encounters are examined for their awkwardness, petty logic and unexpected …
This Week in Comedy is the official podcast of Hard Knock Knocks, and features a combination of news, gossip, history and interviews – all washed down with a new weekly beer. Hosted by Hard Knock Knocks founder, Morry Morgan, and ‘Comedy@‘ producer, Lily Geddes, the podcast puts to bed that myth that you ‘can’t say anything anymore’. Nothing is off …
Anoushka performed her debut stand-up comedy set after joining Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School’s May comedy course, and as you can see, she absolutely owned the moment. Sharp, warm and confidently herself, Anoushka quickly connected with the audience. She spent five nights learning the fundamentals of stand-up, from writing jokes and shaping stories to stagecraft, timing and delivery. A particularly …
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has a very large hole to fill, and it needs filling by the end of August 2026. Susan Provan AO, who has led the Festival since 1995, has stepped down after more than three decades at the top. Under Provan’s leadership, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival became one of the biggest comedy events in the …
