SAVE THE DATE(S) – SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL IS TURNING 10 IN 2014!
After a record breaking 2013, we’ll be back next year from 22 April – 17 May 2014 for the 10th Annual Sydney Comedy Festival. That’s right, we’re turning 10 and we want you to help us celebrate with our biggest Festival ever.
Key dates for the Artists and Producers are:
• Artist Applications Open Online – 18 September 2013
• Artist Applications Close – 18 November 2013
• Participant Registrations Open – Late January 2014
• Participant Registrations Close – Mid February 2014
• Full Program Guide Released – Early March 2014
• Showtime! – 22 April to 17 May 2014
If you have any questions about next year’s Festival, please contact shane@www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au.
Finally, we’d like to send our best wishes to all of the artists performing at the Edinburgh Fringe this year! See you on the other side.
Cheers,
SCF Team
We're excited to announce the dates for our 10th Annual Sydney Comedy Festival. Get your diaries out and save the dates. The festival will be on from Tuesday 22 April to Saturday 17 May 2014. It's going to be a big year!
The 2013 Sydney Comedy Festival Awards were presented at the Festival Warp party following the 60 in 60 event at the Factory Theatre on Saturday 11 May. The winners and nominees are:
Best of the Fest [International] winner: PAUL FOOT
Nominees: Trevor Noah, Paul Foot, Gina Yashere, Stephen K Amos, Arj Barker
Best of the Fest [Local] winner: MATT OKINE
Nominees: David Quirk, Randy, Michael Workman, Matt Okine, Mel Buttle, Joel Creasey, Tommy Little, Ronny Chieng
Best newcomer award winner: STEEN RASKOPOULOS
Nominees: Dayne Rathbone, Steen Raskopoulos, Tien Tran, Alice Fraser
The breakout artist award winner: TREVOR NOAH
The Director's choice award: MICHAEL WORKMAN
The MX Joke of the Festival: RHYS NICHOLSON
See the joke of the fest here on our Facebook page.
Photo by Joanne Saad (www.joannesaad.com)
Every year Sydney Comedy Festival hosts a special secret show in a random location. After last years event where it was in one of the pillars of the Harbour Bridge; we knew we had to bring the spectacle this year, and by all accounts it was delivered. After a 10 minute meander through the city building anticipation; 80 ticket-holders were brought to the very top of the city to the Sydney Tower Eye observation deck to enjoy a beverage, the amazing view, and 4 of the most talented comedians kicking around at the moment.
Hosted by Tommy Little, the show featured Daniel Sloss, Gina Yashere, and the always funny Wil Anderson. All were in fine form; enjoying the intimate setting and an audience that was ready for a big night of comedy in one of the worlds most famous settings.
Secret show will be back again next year; so keep your eyes peeled for when tickets go on sale for Sydney Comedy Festival 2014
If you're looking for more special events from this years festival check out Rights! Comedy! Action! It's sure to be a fantastic night.
So in amongst all the irreverence and frivolity are some pretty seriously awarded funny peeps.
If you are not sure what to see how about trying some of the following: 2012 Melbourne Comedy Festival Best Newcomer joint winners Matt Okine and Ronny Chieng are heading back to the festival with brand new shows, as is our very own (as in the Sydney Comedy Festival) Best Newcomer Rhys Nicholson. Then there are this years Melbourne Comedy Fest Award nominees including Barry Award nominees from Melbourne Michael Workman Trevor Noah and Damien Power, Dayne Rathbone and Steen Raskopoulos (best newcomer nominees), Edinburgh Fringe Best Award (Perrier) winner David O'Doherty. or even better yet the Barry Award winners, Edinburgh Fringe Perrier Award nominees and winners of the best of the Fest award at the Sydney comedy Festival in 2010, the Pajama Men.
All in all its one award loaded festival program for you to choose from.
Dear Sydney,
It has taken over a year of planning, copious amounts of coffee, the odd outburst of tears, a bucket load of laughter, and in recent weeks the jittery feel of butterflies in our stomaches but finally, we are able to say - let the 9th Sydney Comedy festival begin!
Over 150 shows in venues all over our wonderful city open their doors to the largest comedy event ever to be staged in Sydney. We are proudly offering a program jam packed with standup, sketch, storytelling, theatre, improv and lots of clowning around in shows designed for young, old and everyone in between.
So what should you see?
Why not take a punt on one of the Fresh program artists as they make significant strides in establishing themselves in their comedy careers. Or if you still are not sure, a great way to sample the Festival is to try a showcase like Cracker Night (limited seats just released), or Chopper's 4th Annual You Bewdy G'day Big F**kin Anzac Day Show where Heath Franklin's Chopper hosts a bevy of Oz strain stars including the Houso's cast, Randy (yep the puppet) and representing the old Gallipoli enemy, everyone's favourite Turk - Tahir. If you still aren't sure, just show up to one of the festival Hubs at the Factory Theatre or Seymour Centre and see what's on offer on the day.
Whatever's the case, don't just sit back and let the biggest comedy event Sydney has ever seen simply go by. For all the latest updates and special offers subscribe to our database or follow us on twitter or like us on Facebook.
Just get involved and have a laugh!
Jorge Menidis
Festival Director
The Festival is delighted to announce that all round funny guy PETER HELLIAR will MC the Cracker Night Enmore Theatre shows. Helliar will play ring master to an eclectic group of comedy all stars across two massive nights at the Enmore Theatre.
Tickets SELLING FAST! Don't miss out get in now. Click here for tickets
The biggest stars jam packed into the biggest Sydney Comedy Festival Ever!
The ninth annual Sydney Comedy Festival has announced its full program with over 150 amazing shows that will take place throughout Sydney and beyond, making it the biggest festival ever! “With an overwhelming amount of applications and the addition of new venues including the iconic Harold Park Hotel, the Concourse Theatre, Chatswood, and an innovative new Container space at the Factory Theatre, Festival organisers have taken the plunge and rolled out 50 per cent more shows than ever before,” said festival director Jorge Menidis. Continuing the expansion to new places, the Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase will visit regional New South Wales and Queensland for the first time ever with a line-up of some of the funniest and freshest acts from the Festival. Following the first and second announcement of stellar headlining shows, the complete Sydney Comedy Festival 2013 program has now been unveiled and includes both Festival debuts and the return of crowd favourites. Making his Enmore Theatre debut is the irrepressible David O’Doherty, pitching their tent at the Seymour Centre is the masters of physical comedy the Pajama Men and everyone’s favourite felt-faced raconteur Randy, will complete his first Sydney solo show at The Metro Theatre. Performing at the Sydney Comedy Festival for the first time is UK-based Kiwi Jarred Christmas, YouTube sensation Alex Williamson and the masked Mexican wrestling marvel El Jaguar. Celebrating comedy from all over the world, the program also includes Singapore’s hottest new comics in The Sons of Singapore, a United Nations line-up of comedians including Angelo Tsarouchas and Tahir in the world famous Ethnic Comedy All-Stars and from the creators of ‘From Lebanon with Love’, Two & A Half Lebs. Alongside the seemingly endless array of solo shows, the Festival’s much-loved showcases and special events will return bigger than ever before including the Secret Show, 60 in 60 and a re-vamped Festival Awards. Due to popular demand, Sydney’s biggest night of comedy, Cracker Night, will expand from one night to two and include a second Enmore show. Rounding out the program is the return of the Festival’s Late Night Club at the Enmore Theatre’s Yalumba Wine Bar, where every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Festival guests can rub shoulders with their favourite comedians over a delicious beverage or two. The 9th annual Sydney Comedy Festival WHEN: 22nd April to 11th May 2013 WHERE: Various venues across Sydney TICKETS: On sale now. COST: Prices are varied. Click Here to see the full 2013 program.