2011 SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL LINEUP THE MOST DIVERSE YET
With over 80,000 tickets sold in 2010, Sydney Comedy Festival has fast become one of the highlights of Sydney’s cultural calendar. Running from 11 April till 8 May, the 2011 Festival promises it’s most exciting and diverse program yet, with everything from stand up, cabaret, musical comedy and an expanded kids program.
As always, the festival kicks off with CRACKER NIGHT, one of the most highly anticipated shows of the program. At the 2010 festival, Cracker Night sold out all of its 3,200 seats even before the line up was announced! A fantastic opportunity to see a mixture of established comedians with some of the best up and comers in the industry, the 2011 Cracker Night will be held on Monday 11 April at The Enmore Theatre and is an event not to be missed!
Another returning favourite is 60 IN 60: 60 Jokes to hear before you die, the chaotically hilarious showcase in which 60 comedians rotate the stage, delivering a routine in only 60 seconds each. This hour-long showcase will take the audience on a comedic merry-go-round with a few surprises along the way. And it wouldn’t be a Sydney Comedy Festival without a Great Comedy Debate, always a highlight of the Sydney Comedy Festival calendar. Pitting comedian against comedian to argue the truly important issues, this year’s debate tackles the classic question Taboo or Not Taboo? That IS the question!
This year, the festival welcomes back some much loved guests from overseas including Scottish sensation Danny Bhoy, now one of the most sought after comedians working today, as well as his fellow Scot, the fabulously hilarious Craig Hill.
Gracing us from the UK is Stephen K Amos, known to Australian audiences from his appearances on Good New Week, returns with his trademark joy and exuberance, finding the funny side in some of the most unexpected places. Bringing to the Festival a bit of Rock n Roll is legendary UK base player Guy Pratt, who brings to the stage his hilarious tales of touring as a musician. Returning to Sydney is the infamous, one and only Roy Chubby Brown long considered too risqué for radio and TV interviews brings his colourful and controversial humour that has had audiences flocking to see him for 30 years.
Favourite acts from their Irish neighbours returning this year include Ardal O’Hanlon of TV’s Father Ted fame, ticket record-breaker Jason Byrne and the sensational Tommy Tiernan who has won crowds over in the UK, Canada, American and Australia, second only to U2 when it comes to live ticket sales in Ireland.
This year’s USA contingent builds on the strength of last year’s event with self-described “fluffy” comedian Gabriel Iglesias bringing his high-octane shows, filled with storytelling, parodies and sound effects to Australia for the first time. Other Americans making their Sydney debut include Greg Proops, the former host of the popular improve show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and Bo Burnham who, at just 20 years old, has become a hit with audiences worldwide with his satirical and politically incorrect songs. Bo came to fame after his YouTube videos received more than 70 million hits and is one not to miss! Fellow Americans Sammy J & Randy are also returning with another human-puppet-musical-comedy extravaganza after taking Melbourne and Sydney by storm in 2010, performing two shows only at the Festival. And speaking of music, the incredible Reggie Watts, a former Sydney Comedy Festival winner known internationally for his improvised musical sets that include his unique voice and looping machine, will return to Sydney after performing at sell-out shows around the world.
For the first time at the Festival, Latin comedian Andres Lopez will performing on stage in Spanish with sub-titles projected on a screen. This Latin sensation has performed at sold out shows around the world and has had more than 2 million people attend his shows since he first performed in 2004.
Never to be outdone, Australian comedy will be represented by local performers including Steve Hughes who began performing as a drummer in several heavy metal bands before successfully giving stand-up a go, as well as the music trivia quiz show that has developed a cult following since its 2005 SBS debut, RocKwiz. A mixture of music, comedy, chat, celebrities and of course, quiz, RocKwiz is hosted by the chrasmatic quiz mistress Julia Zemiro with a little help from adjudicator Brian Nankervis. Other local talent taking to the stage is Fear of a Brown Planet – AKA comedians Aamer Rahman and Nazeem Hussain – who have had sell-out seasons across the country with their confrontational political commentary, designed to both entertain and aggravate in equal measure with their take on politics and race in Australia and abroad. And they don’t come much more Aussie than Heath Franklin’s Chopper, the international cult hit that earned a Logie nomination. Performing for one night only, Chopper will take to the stage on ANZAC day to discuss all things un-Australian.
The Sydney Comedy Festival also marks the farewell tour of one of Australia’s much loved comedians, Scared Weird Little Guys. The Scardies have racked up 125,000km on the road and 1.5km in the air, from performing for over twenty years all over the world. Other Australian comedy favourites that will be performing at the Festival include Greg Fleets, Daniel Townes, Chris Radburn and Deanne Smith.
Finally, this year the Sydney Comedy Festival marks the world’s most anticipated event with a special, one-off event, making the Factory Theatre an extension of Westminster Abbey to present A ROYAL WEDDING PARTY. Featuring LIVE comedians onstage to provide commentary and riotous opinion as the 2nd in line to the throne marries his glamourpuss girlfriend, this is guaranteed to be the only wedding ceremony you attend while sipping a schooner in your thongs!
When: 11 Apr 11
Venue: Enmore Theatre
Where: 130 Enmore Road, Newtown NSW, NSW, 2042
Contact: Sydney Comedy Festival
info@sydneycomedyfest.com.au
Web: www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/
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