Global-sized belly laughs will take over Brisbane when some of the world’s best and brightest comedians flock to the river city for Brisbane Comedy Festival.
There are more than 100 planned artists and Brisbane Powerhouse has unveiled a sneak preview of who will be taking to the stage in the April-May 2023 event.
Visiting headliners include international comedy master Danny Bhoy, Northern Ireland comedy colossus Micky Bartlett, Irish actor and comedian Ed Byrne, British TV personality and podcaster Ed Gamble, BBC regular Sara Pascoe, award-winning Kiwi comic Chris Parker, and the ‘Maracas from Caracas’ Ivan Aristeguieta.
Meanwhile, there are national comedy icons and fan favourites like Mel Buttle, The Umbilical Brothers, Wil Anderson, Peter Helliar, Rove McManus, Anne Edmonds, Lloyd Langford, Dave Hughes, Dilruk Jayasinha, Geraldine Hickey, and Jimeoin.
“It’s true that laughter is the best medicine and live comedy has proven to be the preferred antidote to recent woes,” Brisbane Comedy Festival Director Phoebe Meredith says.
“Brisbane Comedy Festival continues to grow from strength to strength, pulling record crowds and converting thousands of new comedy fans.
“We are especially excited to welcome back international acts who share in over 350 individual shows across five huge weeks.”
Brisbane Powerhouse will once again be the home of the Comedy Festival, with six stages. Plus, in a Comedy Festival first, the Powerhouse’s new alfresco riverside venue, the Pleasuredome, joins the venue line-up.
Fortitude Music Hall will once again host the Opening Gala, and The Tivoli returns as a festival hub too.
“It’s a smorgasbord in the truest sense of the word, with global comedy legends sharing space with fresh faces on the fast track to national notoriety,” Phoebe Meredith says of the programme offering stand-up, musical comedy, comedy cabaret, theatre and variety.
“The comedians’ shows are just as diverse. From public figures behaving badly to the rising cost of living and modern-day mental health crisis, there’s no shortage of topics ripe for scrutiny and nothing and no one is spared!”
First general tickets are on sale 2 December.
Brisbane Comedy Festival takes place from 28 April-28 May.
