Culture
Comedy
Death threats forced Sandi Toksvig into hiding. Now strangers hug her in the shops
It’s hard to believe now, but the QI host once feared for her family’s safety and was told her career was over after being publicly outed by a UK tabloid.
- by Stephanie Bunbury
Latest
Gen Fricker on guilt-free reality television and avoiding the news
“I was a chronic doom scroller during the early days of the pandemic, and I realised quickly I needed to control the dosage existential dread I was taking in.”
- by Osman Faruqi
‘High watermark of comedy’: One of the funniest shows of the festival
Michelle Braiser has hit comedy gold again with her latest show.
- by Daniel Herborn
Known for her silly comedy, YouTuber Bec Hill reveals her spooky side
The quirky comedian’s latest entry in her children’s book series Horror Heights is all about strange and spooky goings-on.
- by Daniel Herborn
Rhys Nicholson reigns supreme at Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Judges deemed Nicholson performed the most outstanding show of the festival, with the awards often catapulting the careers of those who win.
- by Tyson Wray
★★★★
Stand-up comedy
Aunty Donna’s crude gags and world-class lunacy are well worth the wait
It’s been two years since the sketch comedy trio brought their absurdist and juvenile brand of humour to Sydney.
- by Daniel Herborn
Janty Blair is a traditional comedian and officially Deadly Funny
This year’s Deadly Funny National Grand Final at MICF featured cheeky, loud and proud First Nations comedians.
- by Tyson Wray and Patrick Horan
The laughs keep coming: Our reviewers on comedy festival hits and best jokes
Newcomer Grace Jarvis among the up-and-coming stars who shone at Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
- by Patrick Horan, Tyson Wray, Donna Demaio, Mikey Cahill and John Bailey
If you don’t already, you really should get to know comedian Josh Earl
On top of a podcast that’s winning him fans, Josh Earl’s comedy festival show is wholesome and hilarious.
- by Tyson Wray, Mikey Cahill and Donna Demaio
Garry Starr’s (almost) five-star show an epic comedy festival hit
The laughs keep coming thick and fast at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
- by Tyson Wray, Donna Demaio, Mikey Cahill and John Bailey
‘The hype is justified’: The shows you can’t miss at the comedy festival
In this mixed bag of reviews from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sammy J and Melanie Bracewell come out on top.
- by Tyson Wray, Donna Demaio, Patrick Horan and John Bailey