Sydney Comedy Festival Explained

Frequency:	Annually
Location:	Greater Sydney, Australia
First:	2005
Attendance:	120,000^[1]
Genre:	Comedy festival

The Sydney Comedy Festival is held annually in Sydney, Australia.

Launched in 2005 as The Cracker Sydney Comedy Festival at a number of inner city venues, the Festival has grown quickly and now attracts 111,000 patrons every year at venues all across Sydney.^[2] The Sydney Comedy Awards were introduced in 2008, to celebrate excellence in the Sydney Comedy Festival.

In 2013, the festival introduced The Sydney Comedy Festival showcase tour, bringing bits of the festival to towns all over Australia.^[3]

2020 saw the festival go on hiatus. In 2021, it was held 19 April to 16 May.^[4]

Venues have included State Theatre, Enmore Theatre, The Concourse, and Riverside Theatres. Performers have included Ronny Chieng, Matt Okine, Rhys Nicholson, and Corey White.

Special events

The Sydney Comedy Festival produces the following current special events:

• Cracker Night
• Sydney Comedy Festival International Showcase
• Sydney Comedy Festival Gala
• Sydney Comedy Festival Secret Show

Special events in past years include:

• The Mother of All Galas
• The Great Comedy Debate
• Chopper's ANZAC Day Show

Festivals by year

2020

No festival was held upon cancellation.

2014

The 2014 Festival was held from 22 April to 17 May.

Awards

Awards were presented at the closing party of the festival as follows:^[5]

• Best of the Fest [International] winner: David O'Doherty
• Best of the Fest [Local] winner: Ronny Chieng
• Best newcomer award winner: Luke McGregor
• The Director's choice award: Sam Simmons

2013

The 2013 Festival was held from 22 April – 11 May

Awards

Awards were presented at the closing party of the festival as follows:^[6]

• Best of the Fest [International] winner: Paul Foot
• Best of the Fest [Local] winner: Matt Okine
• Best newcomer award winner: Steen Raskopoulos
• The breakout artist award winner: Trevor Noah
• The Director's choice award: Michael Workman
• The MX Joke of the Festival: Rhys Nicholson

2012

The 2012 Festival was held from 24 April to 12 May.

Awards

Awards were presented on the final day of the festival as follows:^[7]

• Sydney Comedy Festival Best Newcomer – Rhys Nicholson- chosen by a panel of industry professionals
• Best International – Daniel Kitson- Time Out, people choice
• Best Local – Felicity Ward – Time Out, people choice
• Best Sydney – Luke Heggie – Time Out, peoples choice
• Best Sydney Comedy Night – Happy Endings, El Roco Room
• Time Out Critics Choice – Lou Sanz

2011

In 2011, the festival held events at the Enmore Theatre, Sydney Opera House, The State Theatre, The Metro, The Factory Theatre, the Seymour Centre, Parade Theatres, The Hayden Orpheum, Riverside Theatre and many more between 11 April and 8 May.

Awards

• Best International Act – Danny Bhoy
• Best Local Act – Felicity Ward
• People's Choice Award – Dead Cat Bounce

2010

Awards

• Best of Fest – Glenn Wool
• Best Local Act – Axis of Awesome
• Best International Act – Pajama Men
• The Jury Prize – Dead Cat Bounce
• Best Newcomer – Cloud Girls
• People's Choice Award – Tommy Bradson

2009

Awards

• Best Newcomer – The Pajama Men
• Best Local Act – Julia Morris
• Best International Act – Jeremy Hotz
• The Jury Prize – The Paradoxical Adventures of Lawrence Leung and Andrew McClelland
• People's Choice Award – The Al Pitcher Picture Show
• Best of the Fest Award – The Pajama Men

2008

Awards

• Best Newcomer – DeAnne Smith
• Best Local Act- Lawrence Leung
• Best International Act- Mark Watson
• People's Choice Award – Ross Noble
• Best of the Fest Award – Mark Watson
• Director's Choice Award – Amelia Jane Hunter

Showcase Tour

The inaugural Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase brought the laughs to all corners of regional NSW and QLD leaving an audience of over 10 000 in stitches.^[8] Touring over 11 weeks (July – September 2013) with 33 shows, the show visited the following towns and cities:

• Canberra
• Queanbeyan
• Cooma
• Bundaberg
• Noosa
• Brisbane
• Toowoomba
• Capella
• Proserpine
• Rockhampton
• Mackay
• Dee Why
• Narooma
• Batemans Bay
• Merimbula
• Gosford
• Newcastle
• Cessnock
• Sutherland
• Bathurst
• Dubbo
• Katoomba
• Nowra
• Wollongong
• Coffs Harbour
• Ballina
• Lismore
• Tamworth
• Port Macquarie
• Taree
• Wodonga
• Wagga
• Griffith

Comics

Comedians who have appeared at The Sydney Comedy Festival include:^[9]

• Aamer Rahman & Nazeem Hussain (Fear of a Brown Planet) (2008, 2010, 2011)
• Adam Hills (2006, 2009)
• Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds (2013)
• Ahmad Ahmed (2006)
• Akmal Saleh (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010)
• Alex Lee (2013)
• Alex Lykos (A Long Night) (2013)
• Alex Williamson (2013)
• Alice Fraser (aggressively Helpful) (2013)
• Al Lubel (2005)
• Al Pitcher (2008, 2009, 2010)
• Alexis Dubis (2010)
• Alonzo Bodden (2010)
• Amanda Buckley & Susie Youseff (2013)
• Amelia Jane Hunter (2008, 2010, 2011, 2013)
• Andres Lopez (2011)
• Andrew Hastings (2016)
• Andrew Dice Clay (2006)
• Andrew McClelland (2008, 2009, 2011)
• Andrew Stanley (2008, 2009)
• Angelo Tsarouchas (2008)
• Anh Do (2008, 2013)
• Anil Desai (2011)
• Anthony Salame (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)
• Ardal O'Hanlon (2011)
• Arj Barker (2006, 2008, 2013)
• Austen Tayshus (2005)
• Axis of Awesome (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013)
• Bard to the Bone (2013)
• Barry Diamond (2005)
• Bart Freebairn (2013)
• Basile (2005, 2010)
• Bear Pack vs Cubs (2013)
• Benjamin Crellin (2010)
• Ben Darsow (2013)
• Ben Ellwood (2013)
• Best Newcomers Show (2013)
• Black Rose (2005)
• The Breakfast Club (2013)
• Bo Burnham (2011)
• Bob Downe (2005)
• Brad Garrett (2005)
• Brendhan Lovegrove (2006, 2008)
• Brendon Burns (2009)
• Brett Nichols (2008)
• Bruce Griffiths (2005)
• Busting Out (2008)
• Cam Knight (2013)
• Cameron James (2013)
• Carl Barron (2006)
• Carl-Einar Hackner (2010, 2011)
• Carpe Idiotus (2011)
• Celia Pacquola (2010)
• Charlie Pickering (2005, 2006)
• Cheech & Chong (2009)
• Chris Radburn (2008, 2009, 2011)
• Chris Wainhouse (Homeless Brad) (2011)
• Circus Bizarre (2005)
• Connie Chang (2006)
• Craig Hill (2010, 2011, 2013)
• Custard Club (2015)
• Cyrus Bezyan (2013)
• Damien Power (2013)
• Dane Hiser (2013)
• Daniel Kiston (2013)
• Daniel Moore (2010, 2011)
• Daniel Sloss (2010, 2011, 2013)
• Daniel Townes (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)
• Danny Bhoy (2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013)
• Danny McGinlay (2013)
• Dave Bloustien (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010)
• Dave Eastgate (2010, 2011, 2013)
• Dave Jory (2008, 2009)
• Dave Keeshan & Andrew Barnett (2013)
• Dave Thornton (2010, 2013)
• David O'Doherty (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013)
• David Williams (2013)
• David Quirk (2013)
• Dayne Rathbone (2013)
• Dead Cat Bounce (2010, 2011)
• DeAnne Smith (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
• Dennis Crocker (2013)
• Des Bishop (2009, 2010)
• Diane Spencer (2010)
• Die Roten Punkte (2010)
• Dom Irrera (2010)
• Doug Stanhope (2005)
• Dylan Moran (2009)
• Eddie Brill (2006)
• Eddie Ifft (2009, 2010, 2013)
• Eddie Perfect (2006)
• Effie (2013)
• Elliot Goblet (2006)
• El Jaguar (2013)
• End of Holidays Kids Disco (2013)
• Eric Hutton (2011)
• Ethnic Comedy Allstars (2013)
• Evin Donohoe (2011, 2013)
• Fairy Fail (2010)
• Felicity Ward (2009, 2011)
• Fiona O'Loughlin (2008, 2009, 2010)
• Full Body Contact No Love Tennis (2013)
• Frank Woodley (2012)
• Gabriel Iglesias (2011)
• Gabriel Rossi (2005, 2006)
• Garry Who (2005)
• George Kapiniaris (2008, 2009)
• George Lopez (2006, 2009)
• Genevieve Fricker (2013)
• Gina Yashere (2010, 2011, 2013)
• Glenn Wool (2010, 2011)
• The Golden Goose Awards (2013)
• Gordon Southern (2013)
• Greg Burns (2006)
• Greg Davies (2011)
• Greg Fleet (2013)
• Greg Proops (2010)
• Greta Lee Jackson (2013)
• Griffiths & Dean (2006)
• Guy Pratt (2011)
• Hannah Gadsby (2008, 2009, 2010)
• Heath Franklin (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)
• Henry Rollins (2010)
• Hing & Magee (2010, 2011)
• Hung Le (2011)
• Hypnolarious (2011)
• Idiots of Ants (2013
• Il Davo (2009)
• Imaan Hadchiti (2013)
• Jack Dee (2013)
• Jackie Loeb (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010)
• Jack Whitehall (2008, 2009, 2011)
• Jacques Barrett (2013)
• James Colley (2013)
• James Walmsley (2013)
• Jamie Kennedy (2008)
• Jamie Kilstein (2009)
• Jarred Christmas (2010, 2013)
• Jason Alexander (2008)
• Jason Byrne (2010, 2011)
• Jeff Green (2011)
• Jeremy Hotz (2009, 2010)
• Jewish Comedy Showcase (2013)
• Jim Jefferies (2005, 2013)
• Jimeoin (2006, 2008)
• Joe Avati (2006)
• Joe Dolce (2005)
• Joel Creasey (2011, 2013)
• John Robertson (2011)
• Jono Lee (2013)
• Jon Bennett (Pretending Things Are a Cock) (2013)
• Jordan Raskopoulos (2007)
• Josh Thomas (2008, 2009)
• Josh Earle (2013)
• Josie Long (2013)
• Julia Morris (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)
• Julia Wilson (2008, 2011)
• Julian Clary (2010)
• Justin Hamilton (2008, 2009, 2010)
• Karl Chandler (2013)
• Kelfi & Fikel (2013)
• Kent Valentine (2008)
• Kitty Flanagan (2010)
• Lady Sings It Better (2013)
• Laura Hughes (2013)
• Lawrence Leung (2008, 2009, 2011, 2013)
• Lenny Bruce (2013)
• Little Dum Dum Club Podcast (2013)
• Lou Sanz (2011)
• Luke Heggie (2013)
• Luke & Wyatt (2010)
• Marc Maron (2008)
• Marcel Lucont (2011)
• Margaret Cho (2013)
• Mark Watson (2008, 2009, 2011)
• Mark Williamson (2010, 2012, 2013)
• Mat Wakefield (2013)
• Matt Dyktynski (2005, 2013)
• Matt Okine (2011, 2013)
• Matty Grey (2013)
• Mel Buttle (2013)
• Michael Chamberlin (2010)
• Michael Hing (2013)
• Michael Workman (2010, 2011, 2013, 2015)
• Michelle Lim (2013)
• Mick Meredith (2006, 2013)
• Mickey D (2013)
• Mikey Mileos (2011)
• Milton Jones (2009)
• Mitch Fatel (2010)
• MotherFather (2013)
• Mr Snot Bottom (2013)
• Nath Valvo (2013)
• Nick Capper (2013)
• Nick Cody (2013)
• Nick Fischer (2013)
• Nick Sun (2009, 2010, 2013)
• Nikki Britton (2013)
• Nina Conti (2011)
• Pablo Francisco (2009, 2010)
• Paco Erhard (2013)
• Paige Hally (2016)
• Paul Foot (2013)
• Paul McDermott (2013)
• Pauly Shore (2010)
• Pedigree Syndicate (2011)
• Peter Berner (2010, 2011)
• Polytoxic (2009)
• Possum Magic (2013)
• Puppetry of the Penis (2008)
• Rachel Berger (2006)
• Randy (2013)
• Rain Pryor (2006)
• Raymond Crowe (2008, 2010)
• Rebel Wilson (2005)
• Reggie Watts (2009, 2010, 2011)
• Reginald D Hunter (2008, 2009, 2010)
• Rhys Nicholson (2013)
• Rights! Comedy! Action! (Judith Lucy) (2013
• Robbins, Stilson & Molloy (2010)
• Rob Lloyd (2013)
• RocKwiz Live (2011)
• Ronny Chieng (2011, 2013)
• Ross Noble (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013)
• Roy Chubby Brown (2006, 2011)
• Russell Kane (2010)
• Ryan Withers (2011)
• Sally Kimpton (2008)
• Sam Cosentino (2005)
• Sam Simmons (2006)
• Sammy J & Randy (2011)
• Sandra Bernhard (2005)
• Sarah Quinn (2011)
• Scared Weird Little Guys (2006, 2011)
• Scratch (2008, 2009)
• Seamus McAlary (2011)
• Sean Woodland (2013)
• Seaton Kay-Smith (2013)
• Seizure Kaiser (2012,2013,2015,2016)
• Shane Mauss (2010)
• Shane Warne The Musical (2009)
• Simon Palomares (2009)
• Simon Kennedy (2008, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019)
• Six Quick Chicks (2010)
• Smart Casual (2011, 2013)
• Sons of Singapore (2013)
• Spy Monkey (2006)
• Steele Saunders (2013)
• Steen Raskopoulos (2013)
• Stephen K. Amos (2006, 2011, 2013)
• Steve Coogan (2009)
• Steve Hughes (2008, 2010, 2011,2013)
• Steve Patterson (2008)
• Steve Philps (2008)
• Steven Wright (2005)
• The Stevenson Experience (2013)
• Sugar Sammy (2008, 2009)
• Superwog & Mychonny (2013
• Tahir (2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016)
• Tammy Sussman (2013)
• The Bad Boys of Comedy (2010)
• The Bedroom Philosopher (2010)
• The Chaser (2008)
• The Cloud Girls (2009, 2010, 2011)
• The Colors (2009)
• The Dirty Bros (2009)
• The Gigalees (2010, 2011)
• The Kransky Sisters (2006, 2010, 2013)
• The Pajama Men (2009, 2010, 2013)
• The Umbilical Brothers (2005, 2006, 2009)
• Theatre Sports (2013)
• Tim Minchin (2009)
• Tien Tran (2013)
• Titty Bar Ha Ha (2013)
• Tom Ballard (2013)
• TomWalker (2013)
• Tom Gleeson (2010)
• Tom Green (2010)
• Tommy Dassalo (2011, 2013)
• Tommy Dean (2010, 2011)
• Tommy Little (2013)
• Tommy Tiernan (2010, 2011)
• Tony Woods (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010)
• Topping & Butch (2006)
• Tripod (2010)
• Tracy Morgan (2013)
• Trevor Noah (2013)
• Two and a Half Lebs (2013)
• Vince Sorrenti (2006)
• The Wayans Brothers (2013)
• Wil Anderson (2010)
• Withers, Capper, Matheson (2010)
• Xavier Michelides (2013)
• Xavier Toby (2013)
• Yo Mama Battle! (2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016)
• Zoe Pelbart (2013)

See also

• List of festivals in Australia

External links

• Official Sydney Comedy Festival website

Notes and References

1. Web site: About Us . Sydneycomedyfest.com.au . 11 January 2020.
2. Web site: 2013 Festival Breaks All Records! | Sydney Comedy Festival . Sydneycomedyfest.com.au . 10 July 2013 . 29 April 2017.
3. Web site: Thanks for joining us! | Sydney Comedy Festival . Sydneycomedyfest.com.au . 29 April 2017.
4. Web site: About – SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL. 2021-11-12. www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au.
5. Web site: Winners of the 2014 Sydney Comedy Festival Awards | Sydney Comedy Festival . Sydneycomedyfest.com.au . 19 May 2014 . 29 April 2017.
6. Web site: WINNERS OF THE 2013 SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL AWARDS | Sydney Comedy Festival . Sydneycomedyfest.com.au . 13 May 2013 . 29 April 2017.
7. News: Time Out Sydney Comedy Awards: The winners! . Time Out Sydney . 17 May 2012 . 7 October 2013 .
8. Web site: Thanks for joining us! | Sydney Comedy Festival . Sydneycomedyfest.com.au . 29 April 2017.
9. Web site: 2013 Festival: 22 April – 12 May 2013 | Sydney Comedy Festival . Sydneycomedyfest.com.au . 12 May 2013 . 29 April 2017.