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.

The Big Joke Comedy Festival is held in NSW town of Bangalow (10 minutes drive west of Byron Bay) from March 18th to the 21st. Visit the Big Joke 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.

The 2010 Sydney Comedy Festival runs from the 19th of April until the 9th of May. Visit the Sydney Comedy Festival website for full program details.


The Vault, with its underground cavern, is the perfect venue to stage the subterranean drama which is The DeadsHit , a tale which examines the juncture between the mysterious world of Limbo and the equally mysterious world of Karaoke.

Leading in with a video piece, the live action kicks off with a high energy Karaoke performance of “Born to Be Alive” by our hero of the story, Raymond. After this opening the play takes a while to warm up but once it does it gathers a momentum of its own.

This show features Jamie McCarney as the hapless Raymond, stuck in the world between heaven and hell together with Kate Simmondson and Ged Cogley in a variety of roles including Kate as Raymond’s bogan sister and Ged’s devilishly charming messenger from hell (plus a memorably manic turn as Dr Phil). Each of the actors turn in energetic performances, relishing in the comedic potential of their roles.

The live action is interspersed with a variety of video sequences. A lot of the video pieces work well in informing the narrative and keeping the action moving, although at times these pieces can become a bit long winded and over milk some of the ideas. Stand out video’s however include a recording of Raymond’s death as well as the fifties sitcom send up which, with over the top innuendo and lager than life performances is like a parody of Benny Hill meets Leave it to Beaver meets English panto.

The extended sequence exploring alternate lives Raymond might have lived, seemed to chew up a bit more time than it validated and seemed a little out of place in the narrative as a whole. Also the finale to this show, although high camp, doesn’t match up to the inventiveness of some the more raucous moments of the piece. Overall though, the script worked well and had many big moments of hilarity, as well as an interesting dialogue, touching on issues of social theology, between Ged’s devil character and Kate’s angel character as they discuss the reality of existing in their respective abodes.

This is good fun play, which is certainly on the good side of delivering the laughs. The performances are energetic and captivating and there is a lot to enjoy in the script. It’s well worth the effort to check out DeadsHit.

Tonights Gigs

Brisbane Comedy Festival (QLD)
Visit the Brisbane Comedy Festival website for full program details.
Raw Comedy – Semi Final 1
Doors 7pm, show 8pm
Laugh Resort Comedy Club
Visit their website for line up details.
8:30, $12/$10
Willow (VIC)
Blackframes Comedy
This month’s theme is Promotion!
Featuring Anyone For Tennis & MC Lach Ryan.
8:30pm start, Free Entry!
The Death Star Canteen
MC: Dan Brader, Xander Allen, Spencer Hodges, Michael Connell, David Nash, Anyone For Tennis?, Alsadair Trembley-Birchall, Linda Beatty, Sonia Diorio, Zac Cooper & Ronny Chieng.
8pm
Comedy On The Rox
Kent Valentine, MC Amanda Gray, Jack Druce & Heat 7 of Quest for the Best
8pm, $15/$12
Marion Wednesdays
8pm, $12
Free Love Impro @ Lazy Susans Comedy Den
Featurung Jimmy James Eaton, Sam Longley, Damon Lockwood, Ben Russell, Glenn Hall, Andrea Gibbsand all your other Big Hoo Haa favourites…
7:30pm, $5
Cue (VIC)
Old Mate Comedy
New and pro comics deliver their greatest hits as well as new favorites.
8pm, Free Entry!
Full Guide > >