The largest Fringe Arts Festival in the southern hemisphere, Adelaide Fringe runs from February 19th to March 14th. Visit the Adelaide Fringe website for full program details.

Running from February 23rd to March 21st, The Brisbane Comedy Festival happens at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Visit the Brisbane Comedy Festival website for full program details.

Running from March 24th to April 18th, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival takes over the city with performances by artists from everywhere! Visit the Melbourne International Comedy Festival website for full program details.

About The Groggy Squirrel

The Groggy Squirrel is an independent publication which provides a free comprehensive listing of live comedy in Australia. At its inception at the beginning of 2005, The Groggy Squirrel began life as a comedy guide to Melbourne. 2007 saw The Groggy Squirrel expand to cover nationwide listings and features. The Groggy Squirrel also incorporates articles and features relating to live comedy in Australia. Published and updated on an ongoing, daily basis on the internet, The Groggy Squirrel is an invaluable resource to those who want know what’s happening in the Australian comedy scene. The Groggy Squirrel has gained a reputation within the industry for being the most comprehensive comedy listing guide in Australia.

Contributing to The Groggy Squirrel

The Groggy Squirrel will run a variety of articles in each edition which will cover a range of topics related to comedy in Melbourne. The Groggy Squirrel invites comedians and writers to contribute articles/editorials/comments to be published in The Groggy Squirrel. Unfortunately The Groggy Squirrel cannot pay writers due to the fact that The Groggy Squirrel does not advertise or produce any revenue. If you are interested in contributing a written piece to The Groggy Squirrel please contact editor@thegroggysquirrel.com for more information. Please note that unsolicited pieces will not be accepted without previous correspondence with the editor.

The Groggy Squirrel requires that any person who makes a submission to this publication must freely declare any links or associations that they may have with any particular comedian or venue. The Groggy Squirrel prioritizes material that is related to comedy in Australia or to comedians who work in Australia, but will accept other material if it is deemed relevant. Inclusion of material in The Groggy Squirrel is at the discretion of the editor and no correspondence will be entered into.

The Groggy Squirrel Team

While The Groggy Squirrel accepts contributions many writers, a few key players keep the content coming week after week:

VICTORIA

  • Lisa Clark
  • Erin Davidson
  • Jayden Edwards
  • Dan Nicholls
  • Caitlin Crowley
  • Elizabeth Redman
  • Colin Flaherty (Editor)
  • Daniel Sheppard (Editor)
  • Annette Slattery (Editor in Chief)

ADELAIDE

  • Darren Freak

UK

  • Ron Bingham

The Groggy Squirrel Awards

Since its inception The Groggy Squirrel has been awarding Melbourne Comedy Festival shows each year. Past winners are:

2005

  • TGS Critics Award – Tim Minchin, Darkside

2006

  • TGS Critics Award – Winner: Sam Simmons, Tales from the Erotic Cat – Nominees: Damian Callinan has Spaznuts; Judith Lucy – I Failed; Michael Chamberlin and The Ten Commandments; Sammy J’s 55 Minute National Tour
  • TGS Readers Award – Andrew McClelland’s Mix Tape and Sammy J’s 55 Minute National Tour.

2007

  • TGS Critics Award – Winner: Justin Hamilton, Three Colours Hammo – Nominee: Lawrence Leung, Lawrence Leung Learns to Breakdance
  • TGS Readers Award – Daniel Kitson – It’s the Fireworks Talking

2008

  • TGS Critics Award – Winner: The Hounds of The Baskerville (Adam McKenzie, Rob Lloyd, Tegan Higganbotham), Every Film Ever Made – Nominees: Bec Hill, If You Can Read This My Cape Fell Off; Justin Hamilton, The Killing Joke; Sammy J and Heath McIvor, Sammy J In the Forest of Dreams; Sam Wills, The Boy with Tape on His Face
  • TGS Readers Award – Sam Wills, The Boy with Tape on His Face

2009

  • TGS Critics Award – Winner: Denise Scott, Number 26 – Nominees: Celia Paquola, Am I Strange; Lawrence Leung & Andrew McClelland, Time Ninjas; Heath Ivor, Randy’s Postcards from Purgatory; The Bedroom Philosopher, Songs from the 86 Tram.
  • TGS Readers Award – Karin Muiznieks, World War Wonderful

Advice For New Comedians

We get a lot of requests from new comedians asking us how to get started up in comedy. Here are a few things you can do.

Check out the Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Raw Comedy page. Every Year the MICF runs a nationwide competition for new comedians. This page has advice for new comedians and you can join their mailing list to get extra info on heats etc. Being part of the Raw competion is a great way to get to know other new comics in your area and get yourself some stage time and be seen by the public.

In the meantime, go to gigs. The best way to get to know whats happening in your area is to turn up to local gigs and start chatting to some of the other comedians on the bill. Use The Groggy Squirrel website, street press and local papers to find out what gigs are going on in your area.

Another option for aspiring comedians, especially in regional areas where there might not be too many gigs around, is to get together with like minded friends and start your own gig. Approach your local venues about putting on a night of entertainent, be it purely comedy or a mixture of comedy, music, open mic, etc. Always remember to get the word out, submit your listing to The Groggy Squirrel at gigs@thegroggysquirrel.com and be sure to use your local press, free listings guides in your area, local University newsletters and fliers to make sure people know its on.

Links

For links to individual comics, go to the Comics A-Z

The Groggy Squirrel at Myspace

Australian and New Zealand Comedy Festivals

International Comedy Festivals

Comedy Publications

Other Comedy Links

Tonights Gigs

Adelaide Fringe Festival (SA)
Visit the Adelaide Fringe Website for the full program.
Brisbane Comedy Festival (QLD)
Visit the Brisbane Comedy Festival website for full program details.
The Dog Theatre (VIC)
The Impro Cave Summer Club
7:30, $15/$10
Bookings through the Impro Melbourne website
Local Taphouse Darlinghurst (NSW)
Local Laughs
Join their Facebook Group for line ups.
7:30, $10
Hotel William (NSW)
Comedy On The Edge
2pm, Exit by donation
The Street Theatre (ACT)
On The March Impro ACT. At the Street Theatre, 13th & 14th Marh, 7pm. Tickets are available online at www.thestreet.org.au or from the Street Theatre Box Office (062) 6247 1221
Full Guide > >