DATE: Tue 4 Dec 2018
Brisbane Comedy Festival hits double digits in 2019 and – like any impatient 10-year-old – has already ripped off the wrapping paper to reveal a bumper four-week program.
Audiences will be treated to a slew of top international entertainers, some of Australia’s favourite acts, a bevy of Brisbane talent and emerging superstars with 75 acts across Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane City Hall and SunPAC from February 22 to March 24, 2019.
The festival isn’t the only 10-year-old lining up for a laugh with the introduction of a family program celebrating class clowns, fart jokes and a snot-load of fun across five shows sure to tickle the funny bones of children and adults alike.
The merry month kicks off with the Brisbane Comedy Festival Opening Gala, hosted by Charlie Pickering in his only festival performance.
A veritable United Nations of entertainers will jet into Brisbane across the four-week festival including English comedians Ross Noble, Jeff Green and Rod Kemp; Scotsmen Danny Bhoy, Daniel Sloss and Larry Dean; Canadian DeAnne Smith; New Zealander Paul Williams; and Venezuelan Ivan Aristeguieta.
Aussie exports Ronny Chieng and Felicity Ward, now based in the US and UK respectively, are flying back for Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019 with national treasures and hometown heroes including Dave Hughes, Tom Ballard, Tim Ferguson, Nazeem Hussain, Lawrence Mooney, Mel Buttle, Damien Power and Becky Lucas also sharpening their razor wit for audiences.
Complementing a strong roster of stand-up shows, squads of funny people will gang up for a series of all-star acts including Frocking Hilarious, Queerstories, Lady Sings It Better and Shit-faced Shakespeare making its Brisbane debut with A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
More PG-rated fare plays out across the dedicated family program with Around The Campfire improvised comedy, Whimpy Chimpy game show, Mr Snot Bottom’s Stinky Silly Show, The World According To Farts & Other Extraordinary Sounds Of The Human Body, and the Class Clowns competition for students in Years 9-12.
Brisbane Powerhouse Artistic Director Kris Stewart said a packed program of stand-up, sketch, improvisation and cabaret was a great excuse for Brisbane to “get skit-faced”.
“Brisbane Comedy Festival hits the big one-oh, and just like any pre-teen, is growing up before our very eyes,” Mr Stewart said.
“This year, we’re spreading the laughs far and wide and showing our unashamedly immature colours with a program just for families.
“We think kids comedy is awesome and know even adults will get a laugh out of the weird, wonderful and ridiculous shows we have planned.”
Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019 runs from February 22 to March 24. Pre-sale tickets are available from Tuesday 4 December at brisbanecomedyfestival.com. General tickets are released on Friday 7 December.
Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019 is presented by Brisbane Powerhouse with support from Brisbane City Council. It is proudly presented by Brisbane Powerhouse with support from Brisbane City Council. Thanks to Brisbane Comedy Festival partners, including Archie Rose Distilling Co, Bambrick Media, Epicure, LOWD, Newstead Brewing Co, Nick Did This, NW Group, Proud Mary, Scenestr, SunPAC, The Johnson, Triple M and Valiant Events.
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EVENT DATE VENUE INFO SOCIAL
Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019
Fri 22 Feb – Sun 24 Mar 2019
Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane City Hall and SunPAC 07 3358 8600 / brisbanecomedyfestival.com.au @briscomedyfest / #briscomedyfest19
Full artist and event line-up
Charlie Pickering, Ross Noble, Felicity Ward, Danny Bhoy, Damien Power, Tim Ferguson, Ronny Chieng, Mel Buttle, Nazeem Hussain, Dave Hughes, Luke Heggie, Jan van de Stool, Lawrence Mooney, DeAnne Smith, Dave Thornton, Demi Lardner, Corey White, Daniel Sloss, Scared Weird Little Guys, Paul Foot, Becky Lucas, Tommy Little, Aaron Chen, Danielle Walker, Sam Campbell, Paul Williams, Tom Ballard, Nick Cody, Tom Walker, Garry Starr, Greg Larsen, Sam Taunton, Simon Taylor, Larry Dean, Nath Valvo, Alex Ward, Rhys Nicholson, Jeff Green, Georgie Carroll, Neel Kolhatkar, Nikki Osborne, Ivan Aristeguieta, Guy Montgomery, Charity Werk, Michael Shafar, Rob Kemp, Dusty Rich, Tahir, Tim Hewitt, Steph Tisdell, Matt Stewart, Gillian English, Tom Cashman, Cameron James, Angella Dravid, Zack Dyer, Ciaran Lyons, Double Denim, Raven On, #firstworldwhitegirls, The Stevenson Experience, ImproMafia, Shit-faced Shakespeare as well as Brisbane Comedy Festival Opening Gala, Frocking Hilarious, Lady Sings it Better, Queerstories, Breakout Showcase, Brisburned, New in Town, After Hours, Comedy Smorgasbord, Brewhouse Comedy, Queensland Theatresports and Knockoff. The Family program features Around the Campfire (Big Fork Theatre), Class Clowns, Whimpy Chimpy, The World According to Farts and Mr Snot Bottom’s Stinky Silly Show.
DATE Friday 22 February – Sunday 24 March 2019
TIME Various
VENUE Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane City Hall, SunPAC, Newstead Brewing Co (Milton) and Newstead Brewing Co (Newstead)
INFO 07 3358 8600 / brisbanecomedyfestival.com