Not content with their annual multi-venue week-long comedic festivities and a hugely talented bill of acts, Just For Laughs (JFL) Sydney have decided to merge their greatest asset with that of another of their great loves – music.
This December, Just For Laughs Sydney present their Musical Comedy Gala, merging traditional comedic performances with live music entertainment.
Absurdist comedy group Aunty Donna, who broke onto the Melbourne comedy scene in 2012 with a surreal stamp on alternative sketch, have the honour of hosting and curating this unique event. “This is for anyone who appreciates music, and comedy, and appreciates that when you put those two things together, it's the best thing in the world,” says the comedy trio’s Broden Kelly. “Musical comedy is never bad.”
On the group's mission to put together a seamless evening of entertainment, “they needed to have heard of music, that was the first thing,” Broden teases. “So, Wil Anderson was desperate to be on the line-up, but we said to him 'tell us a song, any song' and he was like 'oh, 'A Tale Of Two Cities'' and we were like ‘dude, that's a book'. We said no to him.
“Hannah Gadsby was desperate to be on the show, she was like 'I'll put my new show on' so we said ‘great, just tell us a song', and she was like ‘uhh. . .’ so unfortunately Hannah couldn't be in it either. The same with Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Lano & Woodley. . . They all couldn't be on it because they'd never heard of songs before.
“The ones who could name songs, or ideally had musical comedy songs, we picked them. That's how we curated it.”
Slightly more seriously, Broden turns to what his own troupe will bring to the evening. “We want to be like the bread in a sandwich of musical comedy. When people come in, we'll be fully yeasted up.”
“But essentially, our job on the night is to facilitate as much fun for everyone who has come as possible. As a sketch comedy group, we don't have a huge history of doing MC-ing. It's such an art form that you need to master as a comedian.
“We've had to learn how to be in variety shows, or in comedy nights, so our hope is to make a show where alternative comedy – whether that's duos, or music, or people doing weird stuff – is accepted and welcomed.
Enter to win tickets to Just For Laughs Sydney events (including the Musical Comedy Gala).
“Australia has this great lineage of weirdos doing comedy. Not just stand-up. We have a great lineage of people doing it all the way throughout comedy history, and our hope is that those different voices can be showcased in nights like this.”
The marriage of comedy with music goes together like butter with bread, a combination that Broden, too, finds quite tasty. “Comedy is all about rhythm and music is all about rhythm,” he says. “There's a saying that every musician wants to be a comedian, and every comedian wants to be a rockstar, because they both feed each other and they both lack what the other one has.”
Post-lockdown, any excuse to leave the house is a good excuse and, with Aunty Donna having just completed their first tour in roughly four years, they’re pretty pumped to continue riding the high of live entertainment with their involvement in the Musical Comedy Gala. “Nothing's better than being in a room with people, sharing laughter, and letting laughter grow,” Broden says, “It's such a different experience to sitting at home on your couch watching something.”
“We're excited to do it with people we haven't performed with before, but also, any chance to get in rooms with people again is a gift.”
First Nations Funnies!
The Aunty Donna boys aren't the only ones on curating duties this Just For Laughs (JFL) season. For the first time, the hilarious Steph Tisdell will curate and host the brand-new show 'First Nations Funnies' as part of Just For Laughs Sydney. It's a lovingly-crafted amalgamation of the oldest living culture in the world and the freshest material in comedy today.
Expect to see the likes of Dane Simpson, Janty Blair, Andy Saunders, Kevin Kropinyeri and Jay Wymarra. There'll be something for everyone – whether you're tickled by a bit of thought-provoking political satire, or you're just keen for some classic, cheeky one-liners.
'First Nations Funnies' is a collaboration between JFL and Steph's new First Nations Talent Agency (FNTA). FNTA will continue to curate the show each year – it's a fabulous opportunity to showcase the talents of First Nations comedians throughout Australia.
'First Nations Funnies' takes place at Sydney Opera House on 30 November.
The Aunty Donna boys aren't the only ones on curating duties this Just For Laughs (JFL) season. For the first time, the hilarious Steph Tisdell will curate and host the brand-new show 'First Nations Funnies' as part of Just For Laughs Sydney. It's a lovingly-crafted amalgamation of the oldest living culture in the world and the freshest material in comedy today.
Expect to see the likes of Dane Simpson, Janty Blair, Andy Saunders, Kevin Kropinyeri and Jay Wymarra. There'll be something for everyone – whether you're tickled by a bit of thought-provoking political satire, or you're just keen for some classic, cheeky one-liners.
'First Nations Funnies' is a collaboration between JFL and Steph's new First Nations Talent Agency (FNTA). FNTA will continue to curate the show each year – it's a fabulous opportunity to showcase the talents of First Nations comedians throughout Australia.
'First Nations Funnies' takes place at Sydney Opera House on 30 November.
The group have dallied in their own musical endeavours over the course of their career. “I vaguely know a guy called Joey Walker, who, for more intense music fans, is the guitarist for King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. We went to high school together and he would get up at assembly and play 'Purple Haze' and blow everyone away.”
“We made this really stupid comedy album and we just asked, 'Would you consider doing a guitar solo on a song?' and he said yes. He sent through the most incredible 30-second guitar solo.”
“In my mind, King Gizzard are some of the best Australian talent working today, in any creative medium. I think they're prolific and just outstanding. It was a song called 'Professor Whiskers' about a man who thinks he's a cat. It's just a really simple, stupid song, but in the middle of it is one of Australia's best musicians and artists. Any time we get to do that I find it incredibly rewarding.”
Broden adds of this JFL hosting opportunity, “we performed at Montreal Just For Laughs a few years ago, and we've done a few of the JFLs in Sydney. It's such an iconic brand for comedy – it's as big as it gets.”
“So the chance to be able to do that any time is an honour, but also to be able to host something for JFL is mind-boggling and really cool.”
The Just For Laughs Sydney Musical Comedy Gala line-up includes Matt Okine, Michelle Brasier, Two Hearts, Jude Perl, and more.
The Just For Laughs Sydney Musical Comedy Gala is on at Enmore Theatre, 4 December.
