Melbourne and Sydney comedy lovers should get ready for a healthy dose of belly laughs, with both cities to host their annual comedy festivals over the next few months.
The Melbourne Comedy Festival will take place from March 27 to April 21, with the Sydney Comedy Festival to take place from April 25 to May 15.
Headlining Melbourne's program will be some of Australia's biggest comedy stars, including Netflix superstar Hannah Gadsby, Celia Pacquola and Tom Gleeson.
Hot off the heels of releasing their third Netflix special, Gadsby will present new show Woof! at Melbourne Arts Centre's Playhouse.
Popular comedian and TV personality Pacquola and Hard Quiz host and Gold Logie winner Gleeson will present new shows I'm As Surprised As You Are and Gear at the Comedy Theatre.
International stars at this year's festival will include Darren Harriott, Nina Conti, David O'Doherty and rising star Urooj Ashfaq.
They say variety is the spice of life, and the program will also present a range of great variety shows.
Some of Asia's most talented comics will perform at the Comedy Zone Asia All Stars show at The Capitol on March 31, while some of the country's boldest female and non binary comics will present Upfront at Melbourne Town Hall on April 8.
The festival will also present the National Grand Final of Deadly Funny at Arts Centre Melbourne's Fairfax Studio on April 15. The event will showcase a hilarious line up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent.
Sydney Comedy Festival's lineup includes Jean Kittson, Daniel Muggleton and Felicity Ward.
Comedy legend Kittson will present her hilarious new show Jean Kittson Bangs On at The Concourse in Chatswood on May 4.
Tracksuit-clad comic Muggleton will Perform Blinded By The Whites at The Concourse on May 17, while rising international star Ward will present I'm Exhausting at The Comedy Store on May 3 and the Factory Theatre on May 4.
Also returning to this year's festival is perennial favourite Effie. Portrayed by Mary Coustas, the stereotypical second generation Greek Aussie rose to fame on hit sitcom Acropolis Now. Effie will present her new show Upyourselfness at The Factory Theatre on May 17 and The Concourse on May 18.
International talent will include Adrian Bliss, Ahmed Ahmed and Sarah Keyworth.
Fans of variety may want to check out one of the Festival gala performances at The Concourse, Enmore Theatre, Riverside Theatres or Sydney Opera House. Comedy fans can also join a waitlist for tickets to the gala performance at Pavilion Pac, Sutherland.
Variety fans can also check out Best of the Fest - a one hour showcase of some of the festival's best acts that will be hosted at the Factory Theatre five nights a week throughout the festival.
For more information on the Melbourne Comedy Festival visit comedyfestival.com.au/2024. For more information on the Sydney Comedy Festival visit sydneycomedyfest.com.au.
