Comedy Festival: Southbank

By Nadia Dimattina

From March 29 to April 23, Melbourne will once again gear up for a festival full of laughs as the Melbourne Comedy Festival returns.

It’s time to leave your stresses at home and join in the three weeks of laughter and happiness by watching a range of fantastic shows in the heart of Southbank.

There is a great lineup this Comedy Festival at a range of Southbank venues including Malthouse Theatre, Testing Grounds, Crown, Lawler theatre and of course the Arts Centre.

Here is a guide to the Melbourne Comedy Festival lineup in Southbank:

Malthouse Theatre is home to a range of shows this festival including Dane Simpson and Matt Fords’ Aborigi-LOL, The Bedroom Philosopher’s Cat Show (pictured), Geraldine Quinn’s Fox Poncing as well as Lousia Wall’s A Dingo Ate My Baby. Others include:

Honor Wolff and Patrick Durnan Silva’s – Cull;
Josh Earl and Daniel Tobias;
Jude Perl – Roomates the Musical;
Rama Nicholas – The Lucky Ones;
Sami Shah – Punching Down; and
Xavier Michelides – Lettuce Do This .

Location: 113 Sturt Street, Southbank. Price range: $18 - $30.

Despite there only being one show at Testing Grounds, it must not be forgotten.  Spiritual Botox and the New Wage is a show suitable for all ages running April 5-8.

A performance by Jule Small and Ceri Hann, this open forum chat show explores the relations between the art world, capitalism and ideas that give rise to comedy.

Location: 1 City Rd, Southbank. Price Range: $10-$15.

Aimee D will present her debut solo show at this year’s comedy festival on April 8 at Crown. She is ready to unleash her hilarious tales of interracial relationships in Gimme Some Sugar.

Location: Level 3, Crown, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank. Price range: $20-$25.

There are two shows being featured at Southbank Theatre’s Lawler including Magic Steven’s Note to Self and Phillip A Mayer’s show Table 17.

Location: 140 Southbank Blvd, Southbank Price range:  $16-$25.

There is a huge lineup at the Arts Centre this year with a range of shows being held including Daniel Kitson and Gavin Osborn’s Stories for the Starlit Sky, Ruby Wax’ one woman show Frazzled as well as Judith Lucy and Denise Scott’s show, Disappointments. There is also a range of shows for a children audience including Mr Stink and Frank Woodley’s Noodlenut.

Location: 100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank. Price Range: $15 - $79.90.

These are just a selection of some of the shows featured in Southbank during this year’s Melbourne Comedy Festival. For more information visit: www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017