MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL 2023: Sara Schaefer

Sara Schaefer's latest isn't a comedy show - it is a workshop. Going Up explores the theories and processes involved in Comediocity - a multi-step plan to becoming a successful comedian, all while showing off her incredible miniature-making skills, of course. 

Recruiting new members into the cult of comedy, Sara takes you through a seminar on how to get to the top as a comedian - all by climbing the rungs of a comic's most important tool, the humble stool. Sharing an insight into the industry, all while making cleverly-placed jabs at her peers, Going Up will have you going through a whole range of emotions. From the show's initial 'WTF' moments, to the all-relatable IH (Internal Heckler) scenes, Sara has learnt over the years the secrets to developing your TS (Tough Skin), and making your way to legendary status.

What was easily one of the most different shows of this year's comedy festival, Going Up will have you cackling throughout, all while learning the fundamentals of what it takes to be the best. 

Sara is playing the Cloak Room at Melbourne Town Hall until the end of the festival - make sure you check her show out before it's too late. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

Venue(s): Melb Town Hall - Cloak Room 

Dates: 1-23 April 

Time: Tue-Sat 7.50pm, Sun 6.50pm

Tickets: $28 - $34 

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au & at the door

Jordan Gray is fucking amazing, and she knows it. After catching her at this year's Upfront Gala and the Great Debate, we knew we couldn't miss her show Is It a Bird?, and holy Batman - it did not disappoint. Sharing her clever jokes for clever people, Jordan's infectious laugh, seemingly never-ending energy, and animated storytelling made for one hell of a show.

Sharing her experiences over the years as a trans woman, Gray's mix of musical comedy and standup had us all screaming with laughter with each delivery. From tales of being misgendered by a dog, to the real problem with Batman, Jordan covered off everything she could get her hands on.

A constant onstage prop was a red telephone booth, which we half expected her to burst out of dressed in a costume. What entailed was better than expected, with the comedian taking things just that bit further; topping the ending of any show we've ever seen. 

As a nominee for this year's best show at the festival, make sure you catch Jordan Gray's Is It a Bird? at Melbourne Town Hall before she disappears from our shores.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

Venue(s): Melb Town Hall - Powder Room 

Dates: Thursday 30 March – Sunday 23 April 2023 

Time: Tue-Sat 9pm, Sun 8pm 

Tickets: $28 - $35

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au & at the door

Ivan Aristeguieta is celebrating his tenth year at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Direct from his latest Paramount+ TV Special, Ivan's new show Citizen explores his journey of becoming an Australian citizen, while understanding his identity as both Venezuelan and Spanish. 

This hilarious action-packed hour covers what it truly means to be Australian, the balance of yin and yang that the Aussie language offers, and why no-one seems to know who the Governor-General is. 

Head down to Max Watts to hear his explanation on the sport of cricket, the importance of queuing, and how Bunnings could possibly fix our government. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

Venue(s): Max Watt's 

Dates: 30 March - 23 April (no shows Monday) 

Time: 6.15pm Tues - Sat, 5.15pm Sun 

Tickets: $25 - $40 

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au & at the door

Ari Eldjárn and his new show Return of the Icelandic are pan-melting fun. 

Born and raised in Reykjavík, Ari's take on everyday life in Iceland is both incredibly insightful and absolutely hysterical. Ari's musical talents shine through in the show; his former hip-hop DJ life coming to the surface for his hilarious impressions of music in today's modern world. 

The comedy element of the show covers everything from the realities of parenting, dealing with sleep apnea and his country's shared hatred of the weatherman. Whether he's involved with the mob, or on a royal visit to Sweden, you will be hanging onto every word listening to his extremely interesting everyday life. 

If finding out about the fascinating details of Iceland's vaccination drive doesn't do it for you, come to the show to hear about the time he stared at an active volcano  - just because he could. Ari Eldjárn is a comedic genius and his show Return of the Icelandic is a must-see. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

Venue(s): Melb Town Hall - Powder Room 

Dates: 30 March – 16 April 

Time: Tue-Sat 6pm, Sun 5pm 

Tickets: $30 - $35 

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au & at the door

Sam Simmons is back with his own niche streaming service and new comedy show, Content. 

A wild journey aimed to push all boundaries and the senses, the show justifies a $500 expense on AI technology and uses just enough examples to write off on his tax bill.

Producing stock photos and videos, Sam forms a show around deconstructing social media and pairs the interactive media with some funny songs and insightful gags. Covering everything from forgetting your password, asking a computer the meaning of life and the importance of blue ticks on Twitter, Content is an intense 60-minutes of mayhem that's extremely on-brand for a Sam Simmons show.

Delve into Sam's dreamscapes as you learn more about hipsters in Melbourne, and hear Yelp reviews of people instead of restaurants. His new show calls out the bullshit in life - and makes fun of people who wear beanies inside. 

If you want to know the meaning of life, and be sold on the magic of simmer sauce, head along to see Sam's show. It's one big hilarious sponsored post. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

Venue: Comedy Theatre 

Theatre Dates:  14th - 16th April 

Time: 9:30pm

Tickets: $49 

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au, 1300 11 10 11 & at the door

Paul Foot's show Swan Power has nothing to do about swans. 

Instead, he glides into the The Famous Spiegeltent at Arts Centre Melbourne with his bag of goodies, trademark dark humour and some local references adapted specifically for an Australian audience. 

In this quirky one-hour special, Paul covers topics from online trolling, viagra, the Catholic Church and everything in-between. Bringing with him some flash cards of intrusive thoughts, advertisements that will shock you, and the musings and ramblings of a a man who just wants to talk to you about the 1992 film Titanic. 

Come along to Swan Power to find out why 1903 was such an important year in our lives. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

Venue(s): The Famous Spiegeltent at Arts Centre Melbourne 

Dates: Thursday 30 March – Sunday 23 April 

Time: Tue-Sat 8pm, Sun 7pm

Tickets: $32 - $39 

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au, 1300 182 183 & at the door

Larry Dean's latest show FUDNUT is a show that will have you crying real tears - both for the emotions he will make you feel, and because of how unbelievably funny he is. 

Armed to the teeth with accents, gags and impressions, Glasgow's finest Larry Dean focuses his new show on being a comedian who wants to tell you about his life - leaving no stone unturned.

While there's lots of great Simpsons references and a tonne of material about everyone's favourite Hollywood star Tom Hanks, what steals the show is the heart and real-world feelings that sit behind the clever storytelling of Dean. Containing everything from inside jokes and call backs, to interesting airport security stories and relationship farting etiquette. 

If you've ever wanted to experience 'Tradg-eoke' or are open to your feelings on disco changing forever, Larry's your guy. If you're lucky, you may even get to meet Gary. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

Venue(s): Swiss Club, Melb Town Hall - Lower Town Hall 

Dates: Thursday 30 March – Sunday 23 April 

Time: times vary, see website for details 

Tickets: $30 - $37

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au & at the door

Josie Long is back and has returned to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with her new show, Re-Enchantment. 

Last in Melbourne in 2017, Josie is back and better than ever - juggling her duties of comedian by day, window cleaner by night - there is nothing the recent mum cannot do. 

Her new show, self-described as an infusion of humanity, compassion and some brief political rants, covers everything from her move to Scotland, trying to be a good parent, and being the bougiest person in her friendship group. It also covers a lot of ground on the three ring circus that is the UK political scene. 

If you want to hear about her hilarious interactions with a conservative pest control man, and other fun anecdotes about her life these past few years, don't be a scab - buy a ticket and come and see her down at the Melbourne Town Hall. Josie's new show Re-Enchantment is on until the 23rd April. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

Venue(s): Melb Town Hall - Cloak Room 

Dates: Thursday 30 March – Sunday 23 April (no shows Mondays) 

Time: Tue-Sat 6.30pm, Sun 5.30pm

Tickets: $29 - $36.50 

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au & at the door

Danny Bhoy's new show, Now Is Not A Good Time, reflects on what a wild ride the last few years have been. 

From buying yourself increasingly weird lockdown gifts, to the struggles of mattress home-delivery, the show goes beyond Danny's own personal life in the UK to reflect on the strange few years we've all had. In an extremely relatable show, we're brought back into the world of lockdowns to reflect on what crazy times they once were - not just for humans, but for the entire planet. 

Celebrating his 20th anniversary of coming to Australia, Now Is Not A Good Time reveals how Danny almost came to Australia during the lockdowns, and covers everything from a global pandemic's impact on terrorism to reminiscing about travel brochures. 

If you've ever wondered how the zoo animals felt about 202, this show has some answers. Danny Bhoy's latest is clever, relatable and impeccably delivered. Don't miss out on this hilarious show!

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

Venue(s): Athenaeum Theatre 

Dates: April 11-16 & April 18-23 

Time: 6.45pm 

Tickets: $54.90 

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au, 03 9650 1500 & at the door

The Headliners show brings Melbourne audiences some of the top American talent touring the comedy circuit. 

The Lucas Bros are fresh onto the comedy scene, with the twins' deadpan humour perfectly delivered to a sold-out room at the Melbourne Town Hall.

Being each other's hype man during the set, we learned it's a tough time to be a black identical twin comedy duo - but not for the reasons you'd expect. Talking about their lives and upbringing, Keith and Kenny discuss living in the car-jacking capital of the world, with a family member in jail and a full-proof plan to have their brother shot as if their lives depended on it. The former law students know all the rules, and are doing everything they can to stay optimistic and bounce back after losing an Oscar. 

The best part of the Headliners show is the chance to see a variety of talented American comedians each night with Shalewa Sharpe, Patti Harrison (4, 5, 6 & 8 April) and Sheng Wang performing on rotation. Shalewa Sharpe has all the vaccines and with her passport freshly printed, is becoming well-traveled as she explores life after 50 and the fun of dating when you're older. Sheng Wang is working through life armed with a bulk pack of toothbrushes, and is on a journey of self-discovery to answer the age old question, 'what exactly are oxidants?' 

There's something for everyone at the Headliners show and we strongly recommend heading down to check out what all the fuss is about. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

Venue(s): Melb Town Hall - Lower Town Hall

Dates: 30 March - 9 April (as part of Headliners)

Time: Tue-Sat 9pm, Sun 8pm

Tickets: $28 - $37

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au & at the door