Briefs

14 | Cairns Local News Cairns Comedy rebounds

PHIL BRANDEL

THE comedy scene in Cairns has bounced back and is now more promising than ever with several venues and promoters, launching regular comedy nights.

During the COVID lockdown venues, bars and restaurants closed their doors and as 2020 rolls on it seems like we need a laugh now more than ever, with the local comedy scene now more popular than pre-COVID.

At the ripe old age of 23 Peter James is seen as a veteran on the Cairns comedy scene after he doing his first stand up show at school in grade 9.

Peter has been running Laughing Heart Comedy at the Casino’s Paramore Theatre every Monday night for the past three years. Since reopening Peter said his shows have been selling out.

“We had been going for about three years and then we had to shut for about 4 months, since reopening we’re selling out two shows every Monday night. It’s been electric since we came back.” he said.

As well as Laughing Heart Peter also hosts the Cabaret show every Friday and Saturday night at the casino “It’s a 2 half and a half hour show, there’s heaps of comedy and it’s a super inappropriate show.”

Steven ‘Richo’ Richardson runs Guilt Free Comedy at Macalister’s Brewery in Smithfield every second Thursday and says that he got his start in comedy because he was a fat awkward kid. “Comedy was my coping mechanism; I was the kid who made you laugh,” he Steven ‘Richo’ Richardson at Macalister’s Guilt free comedy

said.

“I was an electrician for 14 years and I couldn’t do it anymore. Now I’m a comedian and I don’t want to do anything else.

Marc ‘The Shark” Cornaz has been working as a comedian for the past two years and got his start at McAllister’s Brewery, during an open night. “I was talking to the MC and he suggested I get up, and after a few beers I got up and did all right and then asked if I wanted to do a set at Laughing Heart.”

He now runs ‘Puff Puff Laugh’ at The Slap and Pickle restaurant on Shields Street every second Sunday.

“We have 5 comedians on every second Sunday, it starts at 6pm so it’s not too late,” he said.

Marc started Puff Puff to give comedians in Cairns another room.

“We need more places for people to watch comedy and for the comedians to try out their material.”

All of the above venues accept open mike spots to anyone who wants to try stand up and Marc has advice to someone thinking of giving it a go “Just do it, write a few jokes and give it a go.”

Puff Puff Laugh is on every second Sunday at the Slap and Pickle in Shields street the next event is Sunday October 25.

Guilt Free Comedy is on every second Thursday at McAlister’s Brewery in Smithfield the next night is October 29

Laughing Heart Comedy is on every Monday night at the Paramore theatre at the Casino from 7pm

Try Tour is at Boardwalk Social at Flynn on the Esplanade the first Thursday of every month.