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.


I’ll be honest with you. This show didn’t work. It’s a long way from being ready and I think its creator David Quirk would be the first to admit that. The vibe coming from the audience on the night was often cold, icy at times, but then I don’t think that’s something you can blame entirely on David.

The show kicks off with a soundtrack of dogs howling and a malfunctioning smoke machine. As David talks to his tech and sorts out the stage the audience is left wondering how much of this is part of the performance. It’s kind of appropriate as an introduction to this show, however, as it is that kind of put-together-as-it-goes-along kind of show.

This show is at its best when it involves David responding to weird notions that occur to him and attempting to extrapolate them out to their logical or illogical conclusions. There are one or two comedians running around town who think they are Stewart Lee, and they are really not. David Quirk, however, when at his best, has shades of the great Mr Lee without even trying.

David says at one point that he doesn’t do comedy about the news or recent events, but then goes on to do exactly that. It’s hard to accept a soul like David’s dealing with the domain of “ordinary” comedians. At this stage the “current events comedian” is not a good fit for him, although his spitting indignation at the press’ use of the word ‘pack’ is the exception.

As I said, this show didn’t really work, but it is a work in progress, and by David’s own admission the night I went was his worst of the run. The thing about it is though, I still walked away with a feeling of satisfaction. The good stuff in this show was infrequent, but David is an extradornary comedian and when it works it’s hugely rewarding.

For more info and booking details go to the Melbourne Fringe Festival website

Tonights Gigs

Brisbane Comedy Festival (QLD)
Visit the Brisbane Comedy Festival website for full program details.
Big Joke Festival (NSW)
A four day comedy festival held in Bangalow NSW.
Visit the Big Joke website for full program details.
Comedy Showcase Docklands
Featuring Michael Connell, Ben Lomas, Phil Andrews and MC’d by Lach Ryan.
8pm, $10 (all proceeds to Many Rooms)
Rhino Room (SA)
Rhino Room Thursdays
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8pm, $12
A Mic in Hand
Doors open 8pm, $10
Visit their Website for line ups.
The Charles Hotel (WA)
The Comedy Lounge
Visit the hotel website for the next line up.
Doors 7pm
$15/$12
Mic In Hand
8pm, $10 full/ $8 students.
Visit their website for line ups.
Laugh Upstairs
Doors open at 7.30 pm, Show starts at 8:30 pm.
Randwick Rugby Club (NSW)
Coogee Comedy
George Smilovici, MC Tom Oakley, Gary Fludder, Miles Portek & Yvette Murray.
$12, Doors open 7:30, Show starts 8pm.
Bookings on 02 96655447 or email admin@randwickrugby.com.au
Hosted by Emo Parsonson featuring Dayne Rathbone, Herbie and the Coleslaws, The Stevenson Experience, Patrick Hornby, Benny Harrisment, Simon Tolhurst and Aaron Pakula!
8pm, $5
Sunset Comedy
8:30, $5
Tom Gleeson with Subby Valentine, Julia Clark, Sol Bernstein & Michael Workman.
$20 + bf
Bookings through the Comedy Store website
ET's Hotel (VIC)
Comedy Bight
Matt Hardy, MC Col Cameron, Anthony Jeannot, Matt Elsbury, Dan Brader, Linda Beatty, Dave Quirk, Tommy Little & Adam Rozenbachs.
8:30, $5
Full Guide > >