Annual Australian comedy festival
The Sydney Comedy Festival is an annual comedy festival held in Sydney.
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]
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 .[4] Ronny Chieng , Matt Okine , Rhys Nicholson , and Corey White .[4]
Special events
The Sydney Comedy Festival produces the following current special events:[citation needed
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]
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]
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
2010
Awards
2009
Awards
2008
Awards
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]
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 (2013Il 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 (2013Tahir (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)
Events in the Sydney central business district
Summer
December January February
Ubuntu Charity Art Exhibition at Sydney College of the Arts
Tropfest Trop Jr
Autumn
Winter
Spring
