Brisbane Comedy Festival 2022 brings the post-lockdown laughs we all need to town from Friday 29 April to Sunday 29 May with its biggest program to date.
A hilarious hitlist of more than 100 notorious international acts, repeat offenders and homegrown heroes will have audiences LOLing in the aisles at more than 350 shows across five weeks at Brisbane Powerhouse, The Fortitude Music Hall and The Tivoli.
Audiences can catch a stellar international comedy contingent on stage again, including Malaysia’s favourite doctor turned funny man, Jason Leong, Irish comedy crooner David
O’Doherty and brand-new stuff from stand-up and podcast host Gareth Reynolds.
Also back to grace Brisbane Comedy Festival with their laugh-out-loud presence are big Aussie names such as Wil Anderson, touring two shows including WILOGICAL, his first new stand-up show in three years; TV and radio funnyman Dave Hughes; Australia’s favourite comedic import Ross Noble; and Harley Breen, host of Network 10’s Taboo and Making It.
Brisbane Comedy Festival Director Phoebe Meredith is excited to welcome an array of the world’s funniest folks back to Brisbane alongside the Festival’s largest-ever local lineup.
“After a two-year COVID-induced hiatus, we are thrilled to kick-off the comedy comeback with top international acts at Brisbane Comedy Festival, taking to the stage with popular household names and emerging comedic talent,” Ms Meredith said.
“Brisbane audiences are always up for a laugh and this year’s stacked program of everything from stand-up to improv to sketch comedy is guaranteed to bring the LOLs as well as introduce plenty of firsts: Festival first-timers, our first-ever musical and a First Nationsfocused week.”
The Brisbane Comedy Festival Opening Gala gets the giggles going on 29 April with a freshly picked assortment of Australia’s best comedians at The Fortitude Music Hall, hosted by Nick Cody.
After a sell-out Sydney season, Schapelle, Schapelle – The Musical makes its Brisbane Comedy Festival debut at Brisbane Powerhouse from 24 May – 5 June, relaying a fast-paced take on Australia’s weakness for media sensationalism as seen through the life and times of Schapelle Corby.
Also new this year is a focus on First Nations comedians, highlighting well-known and upcoming Indigenous comics, including Steven Choolburra, Kevin Kropinyeri, Andy Saunders and Steph Tisdell, performing as the Aboriginal Comedy Allstars at Brisbane Powerhouse on 8 May as well a slew of solo and ensemble shows.
Rounding out the Brisbane Comedy Festival 2022 program are the Multicultural Comedy Gala on 28 May, a star-studded and diverse lineup of Australia’s top stand-up comedians, and Queerstories on 29 May.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane was well overdue for comedic relief and the festival would bring an entire month of it to pubs, clubs and venues.
“Brisbane Comedy Festival has become one of our city’s most highly-regarded and anticipated events,” Cr Schrinner said.
“By attending we can support artists who have done it tough during the pandemic while generating positive economic benefits for our local creative and hospitality industries.
“Following a disruptive past two years, I know the festival’s homegrown and international comedians will be armed with plenty of new material for residents and visitors come May.”
Brisbane Comedy Festival 2022 is on Friday 29 April to Sunday 29 May at Brisbane Powerhouse, The Fortitude Music Hall and The Tivoli.
Brisbane Comedy Festival is presented by Brisbane Powerhouse and proudly supported by festival partners Cancer Council Queensland, B105, Bambrick Media, Flip, goa, PixelFrame, scenestr, The Johnston and Triple M.
Brisbane Comedy Festival
29 April – 29 May 2022
Various locations around Brisbane
www.brisbanecomedyfestival.com/
