Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2015
GET ready for a whole heap of laughs as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival returns in 2015! Marina Solomon has the highlights.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is fast approaching, with comedians from all around the world flying in to bring Australian audiences a good laugh.
Kicking off from March 25 through to April 19, the annual festival will have a bit of something for everyone – international students included!
This year, the festival celebrates its 29th year and with those celebrations comes a huge line up of comedians all eager to entertain, including local Australian talent and a selection of international performers taking part in a special comedy event,Comedy Zone Asia Roadshow.
Featuring a slew of comedic acts from various regions around Asia including Malaysia, Hong Kong, India and Singapore, this special festival event will certainly appeal to those looking for laughs that feel closer to home.
Vivek will be performing an all-Cantonese language show in Melbourne! Image supplied.
One of Comedy Zone Asia’s acts, Vivek Mahbubani, hailing from Hong Kong, is a bilingual stand-up comedian and has performed routines in Cantonese and English. In 2007, Vivek was crowned the Funniest Person (in Chinese) and followed this victory up by winning the English category at the Hong Kong International Comedy Festival in 2008. Vivek will be performing a one-off hour long show, An Indian Made in China, all in Cantonese on Saturday, April 18 at the Melbourne Town Hall.
Winner of RAW Comedy India 2014, Rohan joins the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Comedy Zone Asia lineup! Image supplied.
Alongside Vivek is Indian college drop-out (by choice, of course) Rohan Desai, winner of 2014 RAW Comedy India, which granted him the opportunity for a guest appearance in the RAW Comedy National Grand Final here in Melbourne. Instead of drawing and animating, which is what Rohan does for a day job, he’ll be bringing his brand of dry comedy to the festival.
Michael Che is one of the fastest rising comedians working the stage today. Image supplied.
Melbourne audiences can also expect some incredible world renowned comedians at this year’s festival including Michael Che (USA), who has featured on shows such as Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. Che is back this year to fuse together his street culture roots and big world issues.
In addition to being a comedian, Jen Kirkman is also a New York Times’ Bestselling Author for her book I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids. Image supplied.
Funny woman Jen Kirkman (USA) is also set to bring Melbourne some tear inducing laughs, with her show I’m Gonna Die Alone and I Feel Fine. The comedian has featured on Chelsea Lately and Funny or Die sketches and is famous for her ability to make people laugh.
As a recent graduate, Alex Edelmen’s show ‘Millenial’ will no doubt appeal to audiences in the same boat as him. Image supplied.
Finally, Alex Edelman (USA), a Gen Y representative and winner of the 2014 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer is hitting the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with an all new routine. The New York-based comedian has lived in Boston, LA and Jerusalem, and is all set to debut his Edinburgh Fringe hit ‘Millennial‘ in Australia.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival will be taking place between March 25 and April 19. For more on the festival’s lineup, booking tickets and other information, refer to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s official website.