at The
TR ADES HALL on Cnr Victoria & Lyg
rne Streets, Melbou
TICKETMASTER 1300 660 013
WHAT’s ON
All Shows Tuesdays to Sundays 29 March to 22 April (unless otherwise listed)
Time
Show
Room
6.15pm (SUN 5.15pm)
Al’s Music Rant: The Difficult 2nd Album
The Evatt Room
10 - 22 April only
6.15pm (SUN 5.15pm) Mercedes Benz... Awkwardly
The Evatt Room
29 March - 8 April only
6.30pm (SUN 5.30pm)
Laura Davis – Notes from Birds
The Bookshop
7pm
(SUN 6pm)
Constantinople (NZ) Old Council Chambers
7pm
(SUN 6pm)
Tom Binns – Ian D Montfort: Spirit Comedium (UK)
The Meeting Room
29 March - 21 April only
7.15pm (SUN 6.15pm) Eric Amber – 2012: End of the Beginning
The Quilt Room
7.30pm (SUN 6.30pm) Mark Thomas – Extreme Rambling (Walking the Wall) (UK)
New Ballroom
7.30pm (SUN 6.30pm)
The Evatt Room
Ronny Chieng – The Ron Way
show runs 120 mins
7.45pm (SUN 6.45pm) Emma Zammit – Are You Finished With That?
The Bookshop
10 - 22 April only
8.15pm (SUN 7.15pm)
The Meeting Room
10 - 22 April only
DeAnne Smith – Livin’ the Sweet Life (CAN)
8.15pm (SUN 7.15pm) Mike McLeish & Fiona Harris in ...Plus One Old Council Chambers 8.30pm (SUN 7.30pm)
Lawrence Leung – Beginning Middle End
The Quilt Room
8.45pm (SUN 7.45pm) Michael Hing – An Open Letter To Rich White People...
The Bookshop The Evatt Room
8.45pm (SUN 7.45pm)
Nath Valvo – Walk of Shame
9.30pm (SUN 8.30pm)
Cy Fahey and Frederich Jones Old Council Chambers
9.30pm (SUN 8.30pm)
The Comedy Zone
(excluding 30 March) 10 - 22 April only
The Meeting Room
9.45pm (SUN 8.45pm)
Dead Cat Bounce – Howl of the She-Leopard (IRL)
New Ballroom
9.45pm (SUN 8.45pm)
John Cruckshank & Ray Badran – The Cruckshank Raybadran
The Quilt Room The Quilt Room
9.45pm (SUN 8.45pm)
Seamus McAlary - Eponymous
9.45pm (SUN 8.45pm)
Skills In Time Got Dem Big City Dreams Old Council Chambers
10pm
(SUN 9pm)
John Conway – The New Conway Explosion
10pm
(SUN 9pm)
SAT ONLY 11.15pm
10 - 22 April 29 March - 8 April only 29 March - 8 April only
The Bookshop
John Robertson – Blood & Charm: Disturbing Stories...
The Evatt Room
The Squinge!
New Ballroom
All shows run one hour, except Mark Thomas –120 minutes
Sat only
DEAD CAT BOUNCE
(IRL)
HOWL OF THE SHE-LEOPARD
DEANNE SMITH
Winner People’s Choice Award 2011 Sydney Comedy Festival Ireland’s favourite comedy rock ‘n’ roll supergroup return to rock Australia’s knickers off with their brand new show. “These brilliant boys redefine rock’n’roll comedy. HHHH” The Age “One of the funniest damn acts on the planet. HHHHH” Time Out Sydney
(CAN)
LIVIN’ THE SWEET LIFE
JOHN CONWAY THE NEW CONWAY EXPLOSION
Life’s great when you’re rich. DeAnne pays strangers to remove her body hair! This 2011 Barry Award Nominee’s doing waaaay better than 1.7 billion people in poverty. (This show includes ukulele tunes and free candy.) “This gal’s ready for the big leagues. ★★★★★” Time Out Sydney
“Effortless charm lets her get away with murder. ★★★★” Telegraph (UK)
Best Newcomer Nominee 2011 Melbourne Comedy Festival It’s like if a comedian went to a party with a pack of acid wolves and ruined it; but the party was shitty anyway so Conway and the wolves actually made it hell good. “★★★★” The List (UK) “★★★★. This shit is live.” Herald Sun “Demented, in a wonderful way.” The Age
Dates 29 March - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 9.45pm, Sun 8.45pm Duration 60 minutes Venue Trades Hall - New Ballroom Prices Full Fri & Sat $28, Conc. Fri & Sat $26 Full Wed-Thu & Sun $25 Conc. Wed-Thu & Sun $23 Group (6 or more) $22 (N/A Fri & Sat) Laugh Pack $22 (N/A Fri & Sat) Preview $20, Tightarse Tuesday $20
Dates 29 March - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 8.15pm Sun 7.15pm Duration 60 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Meeting Room Prices All Tix Fri & Sat $25 Concession $20 Group (8 or more) $20 Laugh Pack $20 Preview $20 Tightarse Tuesday $20
Dates 29 March - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 10pm Sun 9pm Duration 60 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Bookshop Prices Full $20 Concession $15 Tightarse Tuesday $15
EMMA ZAMMIT
ERIC AMBER
JOHN ROBERTSON
ARE YOU FINISHED WITH THAT?
2012: END OF THE BEGINNING
Are You Finished With That? is a show about food. You see, food and I are in a relationship. It’s time to take our relationship from ‘exclusive’ to ‘open’. We have to learn to have a healthy relationship together before the two of us self-destruct. I, Emma Zammit, am off to conquer the world one meal break at a time! Dates 29 March - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 7.45pm Sun 6.45pm Duration 45 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Bookshop Prices Full $20 Concession $18 Preview $15 Tightarse Tuesday $15
Eric Amber (The 3 Canadians) is back in Australia to save the World. Eric’s first one man show about growing up in the modern world and the future of humanity will make you laugh until you sigh. 2012 is not the end, its only the beginning. Dates 29 March - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 7.15pm Sun 6.15pm Duration 60 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Quilt Room Prices All Tix Thu-Sat $21 All Tix Tue-Wed & Sun $12
BLOOD & CHARM: DISTURBING STORIES FOR DISTURBING BEDTIMES Direct from the Edinburgh Fringe, John Robertson delivers the story of a father, a suicide, true love, bondage and children’s entertainment. Gin, anyone? “HHHHH. So skilfully executed... you must see this show.”
JOHN CRUCKSHANK & RAY BADRAN THE CRUCKSHANK RAYBADRAN
Two comics trying to break out. The Cruckshank Raybadran. Sounds like The Shawshank Redemption. Well, it’s about as close to sounding like that as regular milk is to tasting like vanilla milk. Anyway, Ray Badran and John Cruckshank do a set of stand-up comedy each, with three combined references to the film that inspired the name of the show. Dates 10 - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 9.45pm Sun 8.45pm Duration 60 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Quilt Room Prices Full $18 Concession $15 Laugh Pack $15 Tightarse Tuesday $15
LAURA DAVIS NOTES FROM BIRDS Can you find a message from the universe written on a can of VB? If you leave your phone number in a forest and nobody’s around will anybody call you? When does a game start being more than a game? Equal parts manic and marvellous, join Laura Davis on a bright, freewheeling detective chase through the dark pockets of Melbourne.
British Comedy Guide
“HHHH. Stylish, alternative, funny.” Chortle (UK) “HHHH. So fantastically alive he must have sold his soul.” ThreeWeeks (UK) Dates 29 March - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 10pm Sun 9pm Duration 60 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Evatt Room Prices Full $20 Concession $15 Group (4 or more) $15 Laugh Pack $15 Preview $10 Tightarse Tuesday $10
Dates 29 March - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 6.30pm Sun 5.30pm Duration 55 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Bookshop Prices Full $18 Concession $15 Group (3 or more) $15 Preview $15 Laugh Pack $15 Tightarse Tuesday $15 Sunday Special $10
AL’S MUSIC RANT
OLD
Ever seen a human iPod on shuffle? Music journalist and cultural satirist Al Newstead tackles his own ‘difficult second album.’ A whole new hour of all-singing, alldancing, all-stand-upping edutainement. A real one-man band.
EW WORK … N T O H , E U VEN
Trades hall has been a Comedy Festival hub since 1997, home to some of the best comedy to come out of melbourne. See a show, grab a drink at the Courtyard Bar or Bella Union, easy for fans of a laugh diet spiced with a little bit of discovery…
“Unmissable.” HERALD SUN “Funny, intelligent & thoroughly entertaining.” COMEDy BEAST MAgAZINE
HOW TO BOOK ONLINE
comedyfestival.com.au Beat the queues, book online and print at home or pick up tix at venue box office.
PHONE
Courtyard Bar open Nightly from 5.30pm
Dates Times Duration Venue Prices
10 - 22 April Tue-Sat 6.15pm, Sun 5.15pm 55 minutes Trades Hall - The Evatt Room Full $20, Concession $15 group (5 or more) $15 Preview $12, Tightarse Tuesday $12
THE COMEDY ZONE WE INTERRUPT REGULAR PROGRAMMING FOR THIS SPECIAL NEWSCAST… There’s only one place to experience Australia’s best stand-up-and-comers in the one show, and that’s The Comedy Zone. These talented comedians are the next big thing to stand up behind the mic. Damien Power (QLD), Tom gaynor (SA), Laura Hughes (NSW), Dayne Rathbone (ACT) and Khaled Khalafalla (VIC). Dates TImes Duration Venue Prices
29 March - 22 April Tue-Sat 9.30pm Sun 8.30pm 60 minutes Trades Hall - The Meeting Room Full $22.50 group (4 or more) $21 Laugh Pack $21 Concession $18.50 Preview $18.50 Tightarse Tuesday $18.50
Ticketmaster 1300 660 013
BOOK IN PERSON
TRADeS hALL BoX oFFiCe Tue-Sat from 5.15pm Sunday from 4.15pm ComeDY FeSTiVAL BoX oFFiCe melbourne Town hall (Collins Street)
CONSTANTINOPLE
and horse massage.
FREE SHUTTLE BUS For comedy fans in a hurry – running between melbourne Town hall and Trades hall. Jump on! Running between 5pm and 11pm
“★★★★” THE SCOTSMAN Dates Times Duration Venue Prices
(NZ)
Look out there. you see that? Okay… now look… Beyond. Through. Inside. Outside… to the city of Constantinople. Amazing isn’t it. Now come back. Back to now. Look at those two great men. Aren’t they funny? An award-winning twohanded journey through history, togas, house music
29 March - 22 April Tue-Sat 7pm, Sun 6pm 50 minutes Trades Hall - Old Council Chambers Full $24, Concession $20 group (4 or more) $18 Tightarse Tuesday $16, Preview $16
CY FAHEY AND FREDERICH JONES
FIGMENTS & FRAGMENTS you couldn’t get more different than the puckish and sardonic Cy Fahey and the deadpan (check his pulse) Frederich Jones, but somehow these two breathe life into each other in the show Figments and Fragments. Cy talks of modern life as a young Indigenous male in the 21st Century. Frederich presents one-liner jokes that have the audience in raptures. Dates Times Duration Venue Prices
10 - 22 April Tue-Sat 9.30pm, Sun 8.30pm 50 minutes Trades Hall - Old Council Chambers Full $20, Concession $15, Laugh Pack $15 Tightarse Tuesday $12 Sign Interpreter Wed 18 April
LAWRENCE LEUNG BEGINNING MIDDLE END A new show from the beardy guy behind Lawrence Leung’s Unbelievable (ABC1). After finding bizarre and disturbing fan fiction about himself on the internet, Lawrence embarks on a journey to examine what makes the perfect story and encounters hoaxes, urban legends and some awesome adventures. “A master storyteller with spot-on comic timing.” The West Australian
MARK THOMAS
(UK)
EXTREME RAMBLING (WALKING THE WALL)
Australian premiere of the legendary comic, journalist and agitator with his critically acclaimed hit show. Based on his attempt to walk the entire length of the Israeli barrier in the West Bank, Mark Thomas tells the tale of 500,000 settlers, a 750km wall, 6 arrests, 1 stoning and too
much hummus. “Informed anger is a comedy tool and Thomas uses it like a master craftsman.” The Scotsman “Moving and inspiring. HHHHH” The Guardian
MIKE MCLEISH & FIONA HARRIS
NATH VALVO WALK OF SHAME Nath has a lot to be ashamed of. He got fired from community radio, applied for the dole and, at the tender age of 27, continues to steal money from his dad’s wallet. Come take a walk and have a chat with Nath Valvo.
IN
PLUS ONE Every group of friends has its little mysteries, every couple has its not-so-little secrets and everyone has to be someone’s…Plus One. A new Australian comedy written and performed by Fiona Harris (Comedy Inc, The Librarians) and Mike McLeish (Keating!). Friends carrying too much baggage for too long eventually need to unload. Featuring original songs and at least one good pash.
“A rising star.” Herald Sun “Plenty of laughs to be had.” The Age
Dates 29 March - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 8.30pm Sun 7.30pm Duration 60 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Quilt Room Prices Full $29.50 Conc. $24.50 Group (6 or more) $24.50 Preview $24.50 Laugh Pack $24.50 Tightarse Tuesday $24.50
Dates 29 March - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 7.30pm Sun 6.30pm Duration 120 minutes Venue Trades Hall - New Ballroom Prices Full Fri & Sat $31.50 Full Wed-Thu & Sun $29.50 Group (8 or more) $27.50 (N/A Sat) Laugh Pack $27.50 (N/A Sat) Concession $25 (N/A Sat) Preview $25 Tightarse Tuesday $25
Dates 29 March - 22 April TImes Tue-Sat 8.15pm Sun 7.15pm Duration 60 minutes Venue Trades Hall - Old Council Chambers Prices Full $26.50 Concession $20 Preview $20 Tightarse Tuesday $20
Dates 29 March - 22 April (excluding 30 March) TImes Tue-Sat 8.45pm Sun 7.45pm Duration 55 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Evatt Room Prices Full $20 Concession $17 Group (5 or more) $15 Preview $15 Tightarse Tuesday $15
MERCEDES BENZ
MICHAEL HING
RONNY CHIENG
SEAMUS MCALARY
... AWKWARDLY
AN OPEN LETTER TO RICH WHITE PEOPLE CONCERNING THEIR ROLE IN THE DOWNFALL OF CIVILISATION
THE RON WAY
EPONYMOUS
Come and catch Ronny Chieng as he brings his awesome new solo show to Melbourne for the first time! Ronny, a Malaysian-born Chinese guy, was raised in the US and Singapore. A 2009 graduate of Melbourne University Law School, this legal-eagle is fast becoming one of the most exciting stand-up comedians in Australia, with accolades from peers and critics alike.
Inside an hour, Seamus will make jokes, tell stories, think aloud and make you laugh at his general musings on life and other things life-related (Wonka’s Nerds). Having just moved to the mountains, Seamus wonders if he is destined to become an out of touch begrudging old misanthrope or should he just get over himself and buy a boat.
Dates TImes Duration Venue Prices
Dates 29 March - 8 April TImes Tue-Sat 9.45pm Sun 8.45pm Duration 55 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Quilt Room Prices Full $18 Concession $15 Group (6 or more) $14 Preview $14 Tightarse Tuesday $14
People’s Choice Award Winner 2011 Melbourne Fringe Festival Smouldering pole queen Mercedes Benz takes a moment between lap dances to tell all. A stripper with a sassy and sincere mouth spilling all the juiciest secrets. “An hour of polished, uninterrupted fun.” The Age “The audience feel totally at home in her presence.” Theatre People
Sold out Melbourne Fringe 2011 Dates 29 March - 8 April TImes Tue-Sat 6.15pm Sun 5.15pm Duration 60 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Evatt Room Prices Full $24 Laugh Pack $22 Concession $20 Group (4 or more) $20 Tightarse Tuesday $20
Michael doesn’t technically hate all white people. That would probably be racist, and he’s definitely not a racist. After sell-out seasons at the Sydney Comedy Festival, this Time Out Sydney Comedian of the Year Nominee debuts an hour-long show about racism, inequality and dick jokes. Always dick jokes. “Wicked smart and one of the funniest f*&king comics I have ever seen.” Jamie Kilstein Dates 29 March - 22 April Times Tue-Sat 8.45pm Sun 7.45pm Duration 60 minutes Venue Trades Hall - The Bookshop Prices Full $20.50 Concession $17.50 Group (5 or more) $17 Laugh Pack $17 Tightarse Tuesday $17 Preview $16
29 March - 22 April Tue-Sat 7.30pm Sun 6.30pm 60 minutes Trades Hall - The Evatt Room Full Fri & Sat $19 Full Tue-Thu & Sun $15 Concession $15 Laugh Pack Fri & Sat $15 Preview $10
THE SQUINGE!
SKILLS IN TIME GOT DEM BIG CITY DREAMS The sun sets hard in the big city... In this all-new production by the comedy group Skills In Time, three little suburban fellas want to make their big city dreams turn into a big city reality. With a spring in their step, they set off to grab the big city by its big city dick. Dates TImes Duration Venue Prices
29 March - 8 April Tue-Sat 9.45pm Sun 8.45pm 60 minutes Trades Hall - Old Council Chambers Full Fri & Sat $19 Full Tue-Thu & Sun $17 Concession $16 group (5 or more) $16 Tightarse Tuesday $14 Preview $14
WHAT IS THE SQUINGE? Squinge: noun. (skw-inj) A live comedy show inspired by a popular TV show followed by a special screening of the TV show itself. Comedians John Conway, Michael Workman, Jimmy James Eaton, Xavier Michelides and Michael Burke present classic TV shows (Degrassi High, Press gang). Come relive your teen angst years with The Squinge! Dates TImes Duration Venue Prices
31 March - 21 April Sat 11.15pm 65 minutes Trades Hall - New Ballroom All Tix $25
thank you we proudly acknowledge the generous support and great humour of all our Partners
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
MAJOR MEDIA PARTNERS
MAJOR PARTNER
TOM BINNS
FESTIVAL PARTNERS
(UK)
IAN D MONTFORT: SPIRIT COMEDIUM Nominee Best Comedian 2010 & 2011 Adelaide Fringe Ian D Montfort is a spookily skilful, wonderfully observed and hysterically funny spirit medium who contacts the dead with inexplicable psychic revelations, leaving the audience gasping with incredulity and laughter. Spoof or not, Montfort’s readings are brilliantly eerie. “★★★★★” THE gUARDIAN, TIMES, TIME OUT, METRO, CHORTLE,
FESTIVAL ASSOCIATES
RAW COMEDY & CLASS CLOWNS MEDIA PARTNER
FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS
TELEgRAPH, SPOTLIgHT & FRINgE REVIEW
Dates TImes Duration Venue Prices
29 March - 21 April Tue-Sat 7pm Sun 6pm 60 minutes Trades Hall - The Meeting Room Full Fri & Sat $26 Concession Fri & Sat $24 Full Wed-Thu & Sun $23 Conc Wed-Thu & Sun $20 group (6 or more)$20 (N/A Fri & Sat) Laugh Pack $18 (N/A Fri & Sat) Tightarse Tuesday $18 Preview $16
CULTURAL PARTNERS
it
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dY Me e Co eAtr th
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FREE SHUTTLE BUS
For comedy fans in a hurry – running between melbourne Town hall and Trades hall. Jump on! Running between 5pm and 11pm