Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award Explained

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award, (formerly known as the Barry Award and the Stella Award) is an annual prize presented to the most outstanding comedy act at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

History

It has been awarded since 1998, when it was introduced as the Stella Award. It was renamed in 2000 in honour of Barry Humphries, and again renamed in 2019 following comments about transgender people by Humphries.^[1] It is generally regarded as the most prestigious award of the festival, and the winner receives a trophy and cash prize.^[2]

Winners

• 1998: Linda Haggar and Fahey Younger – Miss Itchy's Crème De Menthe Breakfast Show (Australia)
• 1999: Sue-Ann Post - G Strings and Jockstraps (Australia)
• 2000: The Boosh - Arctic Boosh (UK)
• 2001: Brian Munich - Brian Munich & Friends (Australia)
• 2002: Ross Noble (UK)
• 2003: Mike Wilmot (Canada)
• 2004: Maria Bamford (USA)
• 2005: The Drowsy Drivers - Keating! The Opera (Australia)^[3]
• 2006: Demetri Martin - Dr Earnest Parrot Presents Demetri Martin (USA)
• 2007: Daniel Kitson - It's the Fireworks Talking (UK)
• 2008: Nina Conti - Complete and Utter Conti (UK) and Kristen Schaal - As You Have Probably Never Seen Her Before (USA) (Shared)
• 2009: The Pajama Men - Versus vs Versus (USA)
• 2010: Sammy J and Randy (Heath McIvor) - Ricketts Lane (Australia)
• 2011: Russell Kane - Smokescreens and Castles (UK)
• 2012: Dr Brown (USA)^[4]
• 2013: Rich Hall (USA)^[5]
• 2014: Denise Scott - Mother Bare (Australia)^[6]
• 2015: Sam Simmons - Spaghetti for Breakfast (Australia)^[7]
• 2016: Zoe Coombs Marr aka Dave - Trigger Warning (Australia)^[8]
• 2017: Hannah Gadsby - Nanette (Australia)^[9]
• 2018: Sam Campbell - The Trough (Australia)^[10]
• 2019: James Acaster - Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 (UK)^[11]
• 2020: Festival cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
• 2021: Geraldine Hickey - What a Surprise (Australia)^[12]
• 2022: Rhys Nicholson - Rhys! Rhys! Rhys! (Australia)
• 2023: Gillian Cosgriff - Actually, Good (Australia)

External links

• Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Awards Page

Notes and References

1. News: Barry Humphries: Melbourne comedy festival renames award after transgender comments. Harmon. Steph. 2019-04-16. The Guardian. 2019-04-16. en-GB. 0261-3077.
2. Web site: Award. Melbourne International Comedy Festival - Corporate Site. 23 April 2019.
3. Web site: 8th annual Barry Awards announced. State of the Arts . 2005-01-18. 26 Jan 2009. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080720171535/http://www.stateart.com.au/sota/news/default.asp?fid=3381. 20 July 2008.
4. Web site: Barry Award goes to strong, silent type. SMH. 21 April 2013.
5. Web site: Rich Hall wins Barry Award at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Herald Sun. 20 April 2013.
6. Web site: The 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award Winners. Squirrel Comedy. 23 April 2019.
7. Web site: Melbourne Comedy Festival 2015: Sam Simmons wins Barry Award for his Spaghetti for Breakfast show. Herald Sun. 23 April 2019.
8. Web site: Zoe Coombs Marr wins Barry Award for most outstanding show at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Herald Sun. 17 April 2016.
9. News: Hannah Gadsby wins Barry Award at 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival . Hannah . Francis . 23 April 2017 . . 27 July 2018.
10. Web site: Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2018 Awards. Weekend Notes. 23 April 2019.
11. Web site: Britain's James Acaster wins renamed top award at 2019 Melbourne comedy festival. The Guardian. 21 April 2019.
12. Web site: Carmody. Broede. 17 July 2021. Geraldine Hickey nabs Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s top gong. 18 October 2021. The Age. en.