The comedy festival is coming to Southbank – right when we need it

Southbank’s Malthouse Theatre has an incredible program of artists on offer at the up-coming Melbourne International Comedy Festival, which marks its 40^th anniversary this year with its biggest-ever event taking in more than 800 shows.

Nude performances of Penguin classics; sharp-edged piano songs exploring success; true stories about life’s messy moments of reckoning; dark, climate change-themed absurdism; and the comic musings of an international star are among the many offerings of the Malthouse Theatre when the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) flings open the doors there on March 25.

According to festival director Susan Provan AO, the Sturt St theatre has “an incredible program of artists, a really big comedy program for people on that side of the city.”

Garry Starr’s Classic Penguins, Gabbi Bolt’s Small Poppy, Rob Carlton’s Virgin in a Knife Fight, Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford’s Birds and Hannah Gadsby’s The Evening Muse are just a few of the shows playing there.

Nearby at the Melbourne Theatre Company’s Southbank Theatre, Yorkshire-born veteran of the daft and ridiculous Daniel Kitson will present a season of his Work in Progress.

While down the road at Arts Centre Melbourne “just about every venue” is being taken over by the festival, Provan says, noting that audiences at any of the “big hub venues” around town will be “in safe hands”, given the acts have been curated by festival producers, who have seen them at festivals around the world.

Among the director’s highlight recommendations is the American Rich Hall, whose “idle but punchy” Chin Music is on at the Fairfax Studio.

The comic, who hails from Montana, and is reportedly known for his “expertly crafted tirades, quick-fire banter with audiences and hilarious musical creations,” has been described by one reviewer as offering “as close as it gets to a guaranteed good show”.

Hall is “beloved” and is “coming back after many years”, Provan says.

At other venues around town the director recommends international acts: Malaysian “weirdo” Phil Wang, New York “toxic optimist” Zainab Johnson, English animal-lover Jo-sie Long and “delusional queer icon” Sam Nicoresti.

As for locals, there are the well-knowns and up-and-comers, too, including Denise Scott, Geraldine Hickey, Lizzy Hoo, Celia Pacquola, Lano & Woodley, Bron Lewis, Melanie Bracewell, Nazim Hussein, Ray O’Leory, Tom Cashman, Reuben Kaye and Chris Ryan.

But for all the allure of the big names, there is a lot of joy to be had in taking a chance on someone new, Provan says.

“We always urge people to go and see some acts they haven’t heard of,” she says.

“Just take a punt. The tickets are not that expensive compared to big music concerts or big theatre shows – our average ticket price is somewhere around $35."

The festival is marking its 40^th anniversary this year with the staging of its biggest-ever event, incorporating nearly 800 shows – an increase from last year of more than 100.

According to Provan, who has directed MICF since 1994, the festival just grows organically each year, and it’s the scale that makes it exciting and “something people want to be a part of”.

“That’s why artists flock from all over because there’s a great sense of camaraderie. People want to go and see each other’s shows and they wind up striking creative partner-ships and things like that,” she says. “And, of course, the audience feed off that.”

“We’ve got a really enthusiastic, comedy-loving audience who are up for an event.”

While there might be a lot of other entertainment around, “nothing can replace that sense with a live audience that you’re sharing a unique experience,” Provan says. “Because that audience will never be the same, that show will never be done exactly the same again.

“So, every show, is a special one.”

MICF runs from March 25 to April 19. •