The Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is the largest stand-alone comedy festival in the world, and the second-largest international comedy festival on the planet. Typically running for four weeks from March through April, it plays host to thousands of the best local and international comedians. A good chunk of those comedians are alumni from our very own Hard Knock Knocks …
Comedian Charisa Bossinakis is young, attractive and intelligent – and uses these traits to work the room and build rapport. Her latest hour show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) 2019, ‘Paquito’, is a nonlinear narrative about a trip to Cuba with her loveable, albeit naïve, girlfriend. Peppered with just the right amount of sass and self-deprecation, the audience …
Comedian Micheal Shafar is a sublimely charismatic and genuinely likeable performer with the kind of comedy that is relatable, hilarious and full of honest observations that I guarantee would even make your 80 year old grandmother laugh out loud. He is like your best mate’s cheeky younger brother who eventually and ultimately becomes your best mate. In his MICF 2019 …
An inspiring and energetic performance was enjoyed by those attending Willem Richards’ ‘Like to Play Pretend?’ at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This endearing performer has produced a fantastic hour-long, one-man show. Richards moves well between multiple characters and skits utilising many and varied props. Take, for example, the massage bench prop which was clearly and hilariously employed during …
Highly entertaining from start to finish, Game Boys – Cinematic Universe takes you from all the way back in time in a galaxy far, far away, to theme parks featuring cloned dinosaurs and prehistoric plants. A hilarious take on movies that have common themes through a “who wants to be a millionaire” type game show, brings out brothers Eden’s and …
There’s few topics that are taboo when you’re part Indian, Zulu, Jewish, and plump. And in a display of misdirection, acting, and observational comedy, Carvin H Goldstone seamlessly and refreshingly discusses race, religion, accents, and doilies, without flinching. And while there is toilet humour, Carvin is completely clean, with no swearing in his comedy set. Those familiar with South Africa …
Several months ago I had the pleasure of being introduced to the comedy of Cameron James. He was the crowd pleasing headliner, performing at Riverina Comedy Club in Wagga Wagga, to a massively warm crowd. What a contrast to his Melbourne International Comedy Festival show – performed in a small office, converted into a performance space. Not that this affected …
Two ladies from cities in the UK most Australians have never heard of, wearing an item of clothing most Australians wont know, driving vehicles most Australians have never seen. And yet The Kagools managed to launch on stage in a hi-octane, fast paced show that had everyone in the audience clapping and cheering from the very onset. With over 700 …
For someone so lightly framed, Gavin Sempel’s humour packs a punch. Indeed, the seemingly incidental goings on in most people’s lives, become highly visible targets, ripe for the Sempel comedic treatment. More often than not the target is Sempel himself (as well as the “odd” family member) which he pounds relentlessly with self-deprecating effect. Born and raised in Sydney’s west, …
