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 …
The live performance industry is getting disrupted by a technology. And this tech is called Gigme! Mobile first, and available on Apple ioS and Android, Gigme helps live performers get paid. It removes the hassle of chasing invoices, negotiating contracts, and managing payments. With an automated escrow system, performers can lock in gigs with confidence and get paid on time—every …
It’s almost that time of year when Melbourne gets funnier. And to that end, this year the Hard Knock Knocks comedy school is producing 14 shows: The Best of Hard Knock Knocks, Dark Comedy Special, and Punter’s Politics with Punter Konrad. The Best of: A celebration of the comedy community Since 2018, the Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School has been …
Laughter is universal, but what makes a joke truly great? What is the world’s funniest joke? Humour blends science and art, and few jokes exemplify this better than Bradford Oakes’ ‘James Cameron’s Fish‘ joke. Curious? Watch Brad’s joke, published on Instagram, below: Watch on Instagram Looking for the funny in science Wendy Zukerman’s podcast Science Vs: The Funniest Jokes in …
The fastest way to book a stand-up comedian in Melbourne is through the mobile app, Gigme. Available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play for Android phones, Gigme allows you to find, book and pay for a comedian directly – with no middleman. You can even chat with the comedian directly and negotiate the fee. Some of Australia’s funniest comedian …
Each year close to 1000 amateur comedians compete in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Raw Comedy competition. Getting past a heat is an accomplishment, but winning a State Final to get into Raw Comedy National Final is incredible. And Hard Knock Knocks graduates have done just that. Six times! Stella Wu – Graduated May 2023 Stella Wu graduated from the …
