Comedy

Melbourne offers plenty of laughs, at stand up shows and comedy clubs around town.

Melbourne Town Hall at night lit up with colourful lights for the Comedy Festival.

The best Melbourne Fringe shows

Burlesque performers on stage wearing black clothing and waving white boa fans.
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Briefs: The Works

Circus with attitude. Drag with muscle. Burlesque with bite.

Comic magician holding a briefcase emitting a sparkling wand and playing cards.
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Best of Fringe Magic

See world-class magicians performing their unique and impossible magic.

Full-length studio portrait of a performer dressed as a stylised, theatrical pink clown against a solid light blue background.
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Adore Händel’s Birthday Party

You're invited to the birthday of history's most scandalous time-travelling songbird.

Physical theatre performer Daniel Nodder with his arms outstretched and holding a pose, on a dark stage under a single white light globe.
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Only Bones: Daniel Nodder

Mind-bending physical theatre with one light bulb, and one jelly-like performer.

Comedian Matt Bell looking to the side with one eyebrow raised, holding a torch.
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The Ex Files: A Comedy True Crime Tour

Join award-winning comedian Matt Bell to unravel Melbourne’s most shocking true dating crimes.

Juggler holding a silver object with lights in the background.
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Kozo Kaos: Juggling Rocks

A high-energy rock 'n' roll juggling show with the world's biggest rock juggler.

A theatre production featuring three actors dressed in mid-20th-century period costumes against a dark, moody background.
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Murder in the Market: A Murder Village Improvised Whodunnit

It's Agatha Christie but improvised - in Murder Village, people shop till they drop dead.

Cabaret performer Tina Del Twist on stage wearing a fur stole.
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Tina's Rooftop Piano Bar

Tina Del Twist lets her velvet voice and wicked wit loose with a bevy of dazzling guests.

Dune-inspired image of a man wrapped in a yellow sleeping bag.
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Dune But Worse

A live clown parody retelling of Frank Herbert's sci-fi epic, Dune.

Man looking through a TV-like frame.
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Wrong Way Grow Back

A comedy about arriving at the middle of your life and wondering if you can find reverse.

A woman wearing a short, bright pink terry cloth robe and sunglasses smiles while standing on an outdoor balcony, holding a fluffy dog in one arm and holding a white pool skimmer pole with her other hand. In the background, a hillside town overlooks the ocean.
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MILF and Cookies

A comedy and song smackdown of marriage, divorce, dating and smashing through the boys club.

Three performers dressed in Regency outfits with fan, book and top hat.
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Jane Austen Improvised

A wholly improvised performance of a tale woven in the moment by the talented cast.

A performer in a black outfit, shorts, and a wide-brimmed black hat stands on a stage with a red floor, holding a large, flowing red cloth like a matador.
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Marketing Man

Satirical chaos that tears the lid off hustle culture, hype mythology, and the dark art of the sell.

Three actors wearing beige clothes lined up together, noses bleeding and looking startled.
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Nosebleeds

A comedy-sketch show as hilarious as it is dark.

Man wearing red sunglasses taking a selfie.
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Parasocial

A one-man musical comedy on the realities of one-sided relationships with famous people.

Drawing of a woman's head, leads attached to her hair.
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Ghostware

A sad play by funny people about grief and AI.

A squashed pack of cigarettes on the ground.
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Anti-Smoking Super Show

Smoking is bad. This show is good.

A woman wearing a pink blazer, holding a glass of red wine, in a bubble bath with a rubber duck.
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The Manager is Me

A hilarious solo show about motherhood, mental load and nearly losing it before 9am.

Comedian Hannah Camilleri wearing a white bowtie, looking pained.
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Hannah Camilleri is a WIP

All new material from performer Hannah Camilleri.

Woman wearing an off-the-shoulder pink dress, holding a glass of champagne and winking.
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Gill Cordiner

Raunchy, relatable and outrageously funny, Gill Cordiner is not afraid to push boundaries.

Man wearing devil's horns and make-up, holding a phone in front of a computer, his hands in the air and mouth open.
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Welcome to Hell

Multiple award-winning comedian Andy Balloch is back with a hilarious corporate onboarding.

Japanese comic wearing a blue shirt.
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Work in Progress

Award-winning Japanese comic Takashi (Waka) road-tests new jokes for next year's festival show.

A man balancing a sculpture of an elephant on his head.
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Toto's Song

A wild, tender, darkly funny new Australian play about legacy, care and chaos of being alive.

A person dressed in a formal tuxedo and white gloves holding a small silver tray with two whisky glasses on it.
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Country House: An Improvised Comedy of Manners

Peek into the lives of 1920s high society with Wilde, Wodehouse and Downton Abbey, improvised.

A man with several birds around him and a toy cockatoo on his lap, against a bright orange background.
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Oliver Pol: Featherbrained

New Zealand comedian Oliver Pol is a silly goose.

Woman dressed as a fairy smoking a cigarette and looking grumpy.
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Rama Nicholas in Fairy Smut

Comedy, fantasy and romance collide in this hilariously smutty tale.

A woman with long, light-brown hair sits outdoors by a rocky stream.
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Spring!

A one-woman sketch comedy show set at a haunted spa.

A man in a red racing suit with patches sewn all over it, wearing a helmet and glasses with a cartoon godzilla in the background.
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The Year There Were No Monsters

A brand new one-man comedy from the award-winning Shane Adamczak.

Close-up of woman's face with pursed lips.
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Hannah Camilleri: Dinner Hannah Show

Award-winning clown Hannah Camilleri brings her loose, playful, absurd comedy show to Fringe.

Comedian performing with a microphone on stage, with Comedy Store signage in the background.
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Robyn Reynolds is Better Than Ever

The award-winning comedy show returns to the Melbourne Fringe.

Comedian Kru Haralle in a yellow blazer with hands in her hair and mouth slightly open.
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Don't Screw the Kru

Comedy about moving cities, clashing cultures and finding home.

A young person with long blonde hair, wearing a green satin top and making an animated, expressive gesture with hands up near their face against a solid olive-green background.
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Tegan Higginbotham: Follow That Turtle!

Award-winning comedian Tegan Higginbotham is back with an unmissable hour of stand-up gold.

Free laughs

A collage featuring Picachu, a blueberry, capsule, megaphone and a rabbit, all on a pink background.
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Presenting: A Queer Comedy Showcase

A stellar standup showcase of the best LGBTQIA+ comedians in Melbourne.

Seated audience watching a standup comedian perform with microphone in a small underground venue.
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Bar Humbug Comedy

Bar Humbug Comedy is a free weekly stand-up comedy night.

A man in a black t-shirt standing with a microphone in front of a presentation screen and two stools, inside a bar setting.
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Off Leash: Monthly Live Comedy Show

A monthly comedy residency that's exactly what it should be: casual, funny, full of vibes.

Stand-up comedian standing on a stage holding a microphone in front of a small seated audience.
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Working It Out

Watch pro comics working new material for you for free on a Monday night.

Comedian holding a microphone, standing under a spotlight in a bar with plants and bar stools.
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Laugh Lab

Come watch some of Melbourne's best comedians perform in the cosiest cocktail bar in town.

Three female comedians speaking into microphones with varied facial expressions.
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Funny Femmes and Thems

A monthly comedy night celebrating women, non-binary and gender-nonconforming comedians.

Four people seated in a row under dark purple lights, one person laughing.
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Comedy at the Charles Dickens Tavern

A lineup show of some of the best homegrown and international stand-up comedians live in the CBD.

A dark image of a comedian on stage seen from behind a standing audience.
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Mirage Comedy: Open Mic

Laugh for free in a night of no-holds-barred comedy, featuring pros and up-and-comers.

Performer on a stage in front of an audience in a dark venue.

Comedy Talent Show

Think you're funny? Throw your name in the bucket and find out live.

Crowded, dimly lit bar with mirror ball, artworks on the walls and eclectic decor.
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Damn Fine Laughs

Catch Wednesday-night stand-up comedy at FAD Gallery Bar.

Unmissable comedy shows

Stand-up comedian Tommy Little on stage in front of Spleen neon sign, holding microphone and smiling.
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Comedy at Spleen

Come along to the city's longest-running comedy night.

Performer breathing fire with head tilted at an angle.
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The Vaudeville Revue: Cabaret, Comedy and Burlesque

Experience Melbourne's most intimate variety show in a hidden gem of the city.

Four rows of people sitting smiling and laughing.
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Kings of Comedy: Underground, Uncensored, Unrivalled

Enjoy stand-up comedy from future stars and celebrity guest headliners.

Two people on a stage giving each other a high five, one also holding a microphone.
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Comedy at the Coopers Inn

A comedy club featuring the best local, interstate and international stand-up comedians.

Novelty wind-up chattering teeth against a yellow background.
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Basement Comedy Club: Weekend Showcase

Bringing you the biggest names and best comedians in the country, and beyond.

A comedian on a small stage in front of a blue curtain making a face into a microphone.
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Sunday Laughternoons

End your weekend on a high note with a secret lineup of very good comedians.

Top down view of a jumble of small miscellaneous items, including miniature toys, a marker, and small plastic figurines.
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Yeah Sure, Why Not!

Proudly presents an immersive, cursed, comedy variety show experience that's different every month.

A group of improv comedians seated on stools on a stage in front of an audience, with a large monitor to their left.
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Wax Quizzical: Live

A fully improvised quiz show where the experts are idiots, hosted by Kyran Nicholson.

King Arthur and knights standing on stage in medieval dress.
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Monty Python's Spamalot

A riotous retelling of the adventures of King Arthur and his loyal Knights.

Comedian Lloyd Langford holding a microphone in his hand and performing stand-up comedy on a stage against a red curtain.
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Cheap Tuesday Stand-Up Comedy

Enjoy the best comedians doing their new, and new comedians doing their best.

People dressed as characters from Fawlty Towers, with Basil strangling Manuel as Sybil talks on the phone.
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Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience

The global sensation returns with a fully immersive dining experience.

An empty stage with a black curtain, seen from behind the rows of empty chairs.
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Sunday Night Stand Up Comedy Show

See some of Melbourne's best stand-up comedy, every Sunday night.

Stand-up comedian Sam Campbell, talking into a microphone they hold in their hand, performing live on stage.
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Main Stage: Stand-Up Comedy

Have a laugh with stand-up comedy from Australia's best comedians, plus international drop-ins.

A live stand-up comedy performance in a dimly lit basement venue or club with an audience seated in the foreground.

Triple Comedy Headliner

Enjoy three headliners for the price of one at the Melbourne Comedy Club.

A person on a stage, speaking to a seated live audience at a venue hosting stand-up comedy.
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Comedy Therapy

A weekly night of stand-up where comedians try to solve the audience's problems.

A stand up comedian performing on a small stage in front of a seated audience at a comedy venue.
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Asian Comedy Showcase

See Australia's funniest Asian comedians, from TV and radio as well as up-and-coming stars.

Two drag performers posing in strong-man stances while dressed in blue and pink leopard print leotards and visors.
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Bingo Bananza

The familiar world of bingo collides with the strange, sparkly, and wonderfully absurd.

Comedian Arj Barker head shot against a blue background.
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Arj Barker's Safe Space: Tuesdays

The US comedian rocks the basement with new material, plus some classics and guests.

Where to see comedy in Melbourne

Comedian Rhys Nicholson on a stage wearing a black suit and white shirt, talking into a microphone the yhold, audience watching.

Comedy Republic

A theatre and bar showcasing the biggest names in Australian comedy.

Rear view of a performer on stage at the Comic's Lounge, facing a seated audience.

The Comics Lounge Comedy Club

Enjoy a night of laughs, cocktails, food and friends with stand-up comedy acts.

Number 8 ball on green pool table.

Spleen Bar

Live jazz nights and jam sessions open to all, along with a range of beers, shots and cocktails.

Back view of a musician and musical equipment silhouetted on a stage facing the audience with sparkling lighting effects.

Max Watt's

This basement live music venue has hosted some of rock music's biggest acts.

Exterior of the Coopers Inn building, situated on a street corner.

Coopers Inn

A family-owned, heritage-listed traditional pub with weekly specials and events.

Comedian Ross Noble performing stand-up at a small venue with a brick wall background.

Basement Comedy Club

Basement Comedy Club is the hottest underground comedy club around, with big names guaranteed.

Exterior street view of Theory Bar, showing people drinking at tables outside and an open glass door.

Theory Bar

A classic laneway bar, with an emphasis on cocktails, comedy and film events.

Interior of Miranda Bar with people standing at the bar andor seated at small tables along a wall.

Miranda Bar

Late-night Latin-inspired cocktails in the heart of the city.

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