After completing a hugely successful Comedy Festival season with their show Goodbye, Lano & Woodley have announced three more dates in Melbourne from November 9 -11. These are promising to be their absolutely very last shows so to check them out book now at Ticketek.
Congratulations are due to Demetri Martin, who walked away with The Barry at the MICF Awards announced at the start of May. Demetri won over other nominees Daniel Kitson, Tim Minchin, Charlie Pickering, Sam Simmons and Mark Watson. Sammy J took out the gong for best newcomer, Judith Lucy won The Age Critics’ award and Damian Callinan and Fiona O’Loughlin shared the Piece Of Wood award. The Golden Gibbo went to Cliffy and the Festival Directors’ award was shared between Nick Sun and Men of Steel. Erin Davidson took out the Funny Tonne competition amassing over one hundred and thirty shows in the three and half week run.
Also in Comedy Festival news, the MICF is reporting a financial loss of about $100,000. Although attendance figures were up overall, as were the number of acts participating in this year’s festival, with 223 shows in all, this wasn’t enough to offset the amount of revenue that the MICF poured into advertising and marketing to counteract the effect of the Commonwealth Games. Next year the Melbourne Comedy Festival will be competing against major events such as the FINA World Swimming Championships.
And with one festival over, another one is just around the corner. The Melbourne Fringe Festival has just announced a series of forums and information sessions for participants and interested parties from May through to July. They will also be hosting a special series of Sunday Sessions in June, July and August in which artists will get to mingle in a friendly environment. For more information go to the Melbourne Fringe Festival website.
Finally in room news, most of our fabulous rooms around Melbourne have resumed regular business. New to the Melbourne comedy landscape however is Lane Way Laughs @ The Canary Club. Run by Justin Stephens of “Comfortable Chair” fame, Lane Way Laughs will happen every Wednesday at 8.30pm. Admission is $5, with The Canary Club located at 6 Melbourne Place, Melbourne (off Russell St), Phone 9663 1983.