Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is one of the world's great festivals. Every year around April the City of Melbourne is almost besieged by comedians and their eager audiences. 2004 sees the Comedy Festival 'come of age' celebrating its 18th year.The Comedy Festival website http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/ is said to be one of the most visited entertainment websites in Australia.
MICF is an important event on the Australian cultural calendar. Since it's inception in 1987 the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has grown to be the third largest in the world, along with the Edinburgh and Montreal Festival. Melbourne's rather grand Town Hall on the corner of Swanston and Collins Streets is the central hub of activity for the duration of the festival, but other venues are scattered throughout the Central Business District and inner city suburbs.
Key features of the MICF are:
| Table of contents |
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2 Upfront 3 The Gala 4 Class Clowns 5 The Roadshow 6 Comedians at MICF 2004 7 Comedians at previous MICFs 8 See also |
Raw Comedy
A nationwide competition for comedy wanna-be's to get up and have a go, finalists perform their material in front of a live audience which is recorded and broadcast nationally on Australia's public broadcaster, the ABC. Raw Comedy is a co-operative effort between the organisation that runs the Festival, and JJJ, the ABC's national youth radio station.
Upfront
Since 1994 the Comedy Festival has produced this night of night's featuring Australia's Funniest Women. This is also usually boradcast at a later stage on ABC TV. In 2004 the comedy festival is branching out and hosting Jeez Louise: Funny Women's Forum, a weekend workshop for young female comics to network with those in the biz and pick up a few tips, tricks and lots of support and encouragement.
The Gala
Host of the MICF Gala this year was Australian comedian Magda Szubanski reprising her role as Sharon from the tv comedy Kath and Kim.
Class Clowns
Competition to find the funniest secondary school student.
The Roadshow
On top of the MICF produced and sponsored events, there are many other shows during the festival put on by independent artists and producers.Comedians at MICF 2004
Here are some selected comedians from the many Australian comedians from MICF 2004
Comedians at previous MICFs
Arj Barker, Henry Rollins