Festival Director Jorge Menidis joins Stages to talk up the festival and all it’s hilarious wonder!

SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL
23 April – 20 May 2018 

The Sydney Comedy Festival is Sydney’s biggest annual comedy event. Every April and May, hundreds of the world’s funniest comedians take to stages across Sydney to entertain an audience of more than 122,500 people, followed by a 50+ stop Showcase Tour across Australia that performs to over 25,000 annually.

The Festival kicks off in grand style with lavish gala events: the Sydney Comedy Festival Gala at the Sydney Opera House, Enmore Theatre, The Concourse Chatswood and Riverside Theatres in Parramatta.

The Festival program, curated by Festival Director Jorge Menidis, features performances from the finest Australian acts, the biggest international stars and the most promising emerging talent offering up everything from stand up to sketch, satire, impro, musical, absurdist, theatre, magic and kids comedy.

Today, the Festival is one of Sydney’s fastest growing cultural events and every year aims to offer a bigger, better or more diverse program to satisfy Sydney’s rampant appetite for comedy.

ADVOCATING & SUPPORTING NEW COMEDY
In addition to presenting the biggest international stars and local legends, the Festival is a keen advocate and supporter of new Australian talent.

Through the FRESH program, the Festival offers new Australian talent financial assistance, marketing support and professional advice to allow them to present a successful show, gain valuable experience and grow their audience.

FRESH’s many success stories include the likes of Ronny Chieng and Matt Okine (joint Winners of the MICF Best Newcomer, 2012), Lou Sanz (Winner: Best of the Comedy Festival: Critics Choice, 2012), Michael Workman (Winner: MICF Best Newcomer, 2011), Rhys Nicholson (Winner: SCF Best Newcomer, 2012), Corey White (Winner: SCF & MICF Best Newcomer, 2015). Phew, that’s a lot of awards!