One of the coolest feelings is seeing a talent you’ve championed since their grassroots days, making it big on stages around Australia (sometimes even the world!) after hustling their way to success.
There are countless success stories in Australian comedy. Think Anne Edmonds, Hannah Gadsby, Joel Creasey, Celia Pacquola, Aaron Chen. Aside from being experts at delivering LOLs, one thing all of these acts (and more) have in common, is that they were given a shining platform to deliver their material when they were first starting out: Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s RAW Comedy.
RAW Comedy is an annual competition with the aim of boosting and spotlighting the freshest comedic talents. It offers hundreds of aspiring comedians around the country the chance to perform in front of a live audience, and compete for the coveted title of RAW Comedy National Champion. Plus, the process really puts the contestants in the middle of the lights, camera, and action of it all. . . Providing real-world experiences of what could be a blossoming, shimmering career in comedy.
The comedy hopefuls present five minutes of original material, and winners in each state will secure a spot in the National Grand Final at Melbourne Town Hall in April.
Last year’s RAW Comedy winner, Omar Gad, is incredibly grateful for the time he spent as part of the competition in 2024.
"It was surreal," Omar says. "It feels like stepping into the shoes of a professional with producers, directors, film crew, green room. It felt like we were all superstars."
Eventually, at the National Grand Final, Omar was crowned National Champion. He says the win, while a surprise to him, was emotional and gave him a sense of validation.
"I was just happy to be there, and when they announced my name, I was like – ayooo. Got pretty emotional, even after my set I had a little cry on the stairs, didn't expect people would resonate with me quite as much."
Bron Lewis, who has recently been seen on the return of ‘Thank God You’re Here’, is also a RAW alumni – taking home the trophy alongside Alexandra Hudson in 2022.
"It was brilliant! I almost didn’t enter," Bron reveals. "I’d entered a couple of years earlier and only got through to the second round, so I was a bit hesitant to experience rejection again! I had just had my third baby, and thought, 'Stage time is stage time', so I entered with no expectation to get through."
"Even when I was at the National Final, I was thinking it was a fluke I was there, so I had the time of my life! When I won, I was truly blown away."
Bron says she knew of there being two winners in advance – and she was thrilled at the prospect of two of her friends taking home the titles. . . Until she realised she was one of the lucky ones.
"The deliberations went longer than any other year before. Because I genuinely had no expectations about winning, I goofed around backstage whilst poor Michael Hing did 45 minutes of stand-up. When they announced this year there would be two winners, I got really excited that two of my new mates were going to have their lives changed, and finally when they announced my name, I couldn’t believe it!"
RAW Comedy is responsible for being the starting point for some of Australia's biggest names. It's an opportunity to catch potential future stars of the comedy scene and say you were there before they blew up – but it's also a fantastic medium to support up-and-coming talent, and usher in the next generation of funny folk in Australia.
Omar Gad (centre) RAW Comedy 2024
"We can’t rely on the the seasoned comedians forever, because they will retire and we will be left watching 'MAFS' at home until we die," Bron says. "Remember your favourite comedian was once a new comedian, and if you could go back in time and see them starting out, you would. Trust that the up-and-comers are worthy of your time and you won’t regret it!"
While there are certainly plenty of ways for a fresh act to gain traction and an audience, Bron says it was RAW Comedy that really made an impact for her – and it's the same story for the 30 previous National Champions of the event.
"It truly changed my life. I still gigged as much as humanly possible," she says, "but it opened the doors to bigger and brighter avenues. Before RAW, I already knew I was on the right track with comedy, but this win confirmed it for everyone else. My trophy is on the mantle piece at home, and my kids are proud to tell their mates what it is, which fills my heart with pride."
"MICF put in a tonne of effort for the contestants, and the quality of the show and the blend of high-end professionalism showcasing raw, unfiltered talent from inexperienced but hungry up-and-comers is unique," Omar Gad adds. "You're not really going to see another show like it. I'm really excited to watch the final this year, because you never know what you might see! Might be a future star up there, or some idiot bagging out his ex on national TV [referring to his set last year]. Either way, pretty entertaining. And it's at Town Hall, so it's bougie as."
Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s RAW Comedy Victorian State Final takes place at Max Watt’s on 24 March. The National Grand Final is on at Melbourne Town Hall on 13 April.
