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 …
Always cracking jokes at work? The one who makes the group chat worth opening? Perhaps it’s time to see whether your knack for getting a laugh could become something more than annoying your mates at the pub. The good news is that stand-up comedy can be learnt. Yep. You do not need to be born funny, or raised by clowns. …
In the ‘How to MC Stand-Up Comedy’ course we teach the use of the ‘Call Back’. But rather than calling back to a joke you’ve already told, the MC calls back to a joke a previous act has told. Watch Canadian comedian use the ‘Call Back’ method in relation to a previous act at the Hard Knock Knocks comedy school. …
So you’re secured a gig. Great! Problem is, it’s at a venue that doesn’t own its own equipment. No stage, lighting or sound, which means you’ll need to bring it all. What are the five essentials to rent for your comedy show? 1. Wired Microphone (Reliable and Practical) A wired microphone is always better than a wireless mic, especially if …
At the 2026 Raw Comedy National Finals in Melbourne on April 12, two of the final 13 performers were musical. Both Brandon Duff of NSW and Mae McCubbin of Victoria performed musical numbers as part of their sets. And while they didn’t take home the coveted prize, they still outperformed more than 900 competitors in Australia’s largest amateur stand-up comedy …
Last night on April 12, 2026, the Hard Knock Knocks alumni returned to the Raw Comedy spotlight. At the grand stage of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, three graduates of Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School have once again proven the training ground’s growing influence on Australia’s stand-up scene. Performing at the Melbourne Town Hall on April 12 as part of …
Melbourne’s comedy calendar is about to add a new kind of headline. Not a gala. Not a late night showcase. But a serious industry gathering for the people who make comedy happen. The Business of Comedy Conference will run from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 April 2026 at Crowne Plaza Melbourne, timed to coincide with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. …
If you’re a lover of all things comedy, then you’re very likely to enjoy ‘This Week in Comedy‘. Or not. You do you. This brand new podcast, hosted by comedy tragics Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan, looks at the then, now, and future of all things comedy. Think films, TV and theatre to stand-up, improv and animation. The podcast also …
