The laughter will be unleashed when Brisbane Comedy Festival comes to town – with festival favourites and fresh faces hitting the stage this April-May.
More than 350 events are now on sale with more than 130 comedians descending on Brisbane to raise the roof, at iconic venues Brisbane Powerhouse, The Tivoli, The Princess Theatre and The Fortitude Music Hall.
Last year was the festival's most successful – but in 2024 it returns with an even bigger and more diverse programme than ever before.
“Comedians are our commentators. They are observers of our world and pull out what they think is interesting, stretching our perception on a huge range of topics. There is something for everyone in this festival,” Festival Director Phoebe Meredith says.
“Across one month, the festival features a stellar line-up of 30 international acts alongside local comedians. Mixing festival favourites with fresh faces, we guarantee audiences will leave with a spring in their step. With the average Festival ticket sitting at $35, it makes for a great and affordable night out.”
Global festival headliners include British comedy master Stephen K Amos, Irish actor and comedian Ed Byrne, New Zealander Guy Montgomery, South African comic Schalk Bezuidenhout and festival favourite from the UK, 'Sh!t-faced Shakespeare'. Making their Brisbane AND Brisbane Comedy Festival debuts are Fern Brady, Adam Kay, Tom Sainsbury, Adrian Bliss and Connor Burns.
Josh Thomas returns to Brisbane Comedy Festival for the first time in 11 years, while comedy crown prince Joel Creasey hits the stage after four years of gracing the radio airwaves.
There's plenty of storytelling and live podcasts too, from the likes of Annabell Crabb, Judith Lucy and Kaz Cook, and Zan Rowe and Myf Warhurst.
Plus there'll be everything from theatre, to film, and music. . . With 'Murder Village, An Improvised Whodunnit' which returns after a sell-out 2023 season. Plus, playwright provocateur David Finnigan presents rom-com theatre show '44 Sex Acts In One Week'.
Film is integrated into the programme for the first time ever.
Some great Australian comedies will be screened at Dendy Powerhouse Outdoor Cinema, plus Queensland musician Eddie Ray presents 'Silence Of The Jams', bringing an epic, hilarious soundtrack to self-made independent film.
Rising stars and comedy favourites include award-winning newcomer He Huang, Daniel Muggleton sharing his bracing social commentary, and Felicity Ward on her first national tour in five years.
Claire Hooper will host the much-loved 'Frocking Hilarious', with Australia's queens of comey, plus Alexandra Hudson flips societal misconceptions about disability in 'Making Lemonade', and Logie Award winner Effie presents her masterclass in the art of 'Upyourselfness'.
There'll be plenty of razor-sharp wit and charm in 'Are You Pulling My Leg?', a showcase of some of Australia's funniest and award-winning performers with a disability or chronic illness, and the Aboriginal Comedy Allstars present some of the best First Nations comedians.
Brisbane Comedy Festival is on at Brisbane Powerhouse, The Fortitude Music Hall, The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre from 26 April-26 May.
