Humour is intertwined into the fabric of our everyday lives and has the ability to connect us to ourselves and others. Whether you are sharing your latest yarn with a friend at the pub, binge watching a show at home and laughing out loud on your own, or contributing to the energy of a room full of strangers at a local stand-up night, comedy allows us to live in the moment and can help us cope with situations that are otherwise impossible to understand.
We know the past few years have been tough and heavy for many, and as the city reinvigorates and life starts to feel more ‘normal’, we think it’s time to get out and share a laugh with each other. As a small Melbourne made whiskey, it’s a privilege to be involved with Melbourne’s most iconic annual event as the official whiskey of the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, supporting the arts and local comedians.
Originally launched in 1987 by Barry Humphries and Peter Cook, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the three largest comedy festivals in the world, alongside Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreal's Just for Laughs. Running from 30 March – 24 April 2022 there are plenty of opportunities to see a show, discover great talent and stop in at a bar for a rye whiskey highball or cocktail.
As part of the festival, we shared a conversation with the line-up of Comedy Zone, an annual event that showcases up and coming local comedians who are set to be the next wave of Australian comedy stars.
Check the interviews below and make sure to buy tickets here and help support our local comedy community.
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Image: Prue Blake
Prue Blake (VIC)
Prue is a strong, confident underachiever by choice… or she was before she became the RAW Comedy National Champion! Her style is observational, intelligent and cheeky. Prue has been described as both "dashing" and a "disillusioned feminist" by The Age.
-- Are you excited to be performing at MICF this year?
I am like a little kid in the lead up to Christmas excited about MICF this year. I’m counting down the days and now I am really wishing I had held onto an advent calendar so I could temper that excitement with a daily chocolate treat.
-- Tell us about your show, what can audiences expect from it?
This year I am so lucky to be part of Comedy Zone which is the hottest, coolest, freshest, and funkiest line-up show of the festival (as proclaimed by me). Honestly though, I can’t wait to spend a month performing with my favourite introvert comedian Patrick Golamco, stone called crusher He Huang, one liner genius Nick Schuller and the loud and loveable Jay Wymarra. Every one of them are hilarious, so it’s the perfect show for bringing your entire workplace if you want to deliver a night so awesome you are forever known as the office hero.
-- What drew you to comedy? When did you decide it was for you?
When I first moved to Melbourne, I did an Improv class to help me make friends and pick up some dates. It was partially effective in helping me achieve these goals, but wholly effective in consuming my whole life with the desire to do Comedy.
-- Who are you excited to see this MICF?
I have over 80 shows favourited on the MICF website at the moment and it’s impossible to narrow it down… but I really can’t wait to see Daniel Connell, Geraldine Hickey, Jordan Barr, Urvi Majumdar, Oliver Coleman, Bronwyn Kuss, Floyd Alexander-Hunt and Peter Jones. Ugh, even saying that I am pained by all the shows I don’t have time to mention (Alex Ward! Brett Blake! Luka Muller! Chris Ryan!).
-- Where do you go to eat and drink during the festival?
The main thing keeping my going during festival is my deep love of ice cream – so you’ll most often catch me at Spring Street Grocer or Piccolina getting a scoop as I run from one show to the next. For a drink I’ll head to Comedy Republic, Whisky and Alement or Kirks Wine Bar and for a late night eat, nothing hits the spot like ramen at Shujinko.
-- Besides comedy, what else are you fanatical about?
It’s absolutely Moon Cruller. A friend and I have been going every Friday for about a year now and we constantly revise our rankings of the best flavours (cappuccino is top for me) and obsess over the potential for new flavour combinations yet to be discovered. There is nothing quite like a trip to Moon followed by a walk around the Carlton Gardens to start your weekend off on the right note.
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Image: Nick Schuller
Nick Schuller (ACT)
Nick Schuller moved to London right before the start of a global pandemic, so you know his timing is impeccable. He's been a RAW Comedy State Finalist twice, and has supported some big names in comedy, including Tom 'Gold Logie' Gleeson. He also went to school with Emma Watson.
-- Are you excited to be performing at MICF this year?
I’m super excited to be performing at MICF this year. Having spent most nights for the last two years talking to myself in my tiny one bedroom apartment, I can’t wait to spend every night for a month talking to strangers on a stage that is roughly the same size as said apartment.
-- Tell us about your show, what can audiences expect from it?
I’m part of Comedy Zone at MICF this year which is a show featuring five of the next big stars in Australian comedy, as chosen by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Comedy Zone alumni include people like Hannah Gadsby, Aaron Chen and Celia Paquola so it’s a huge honour to be part of the show this year.
In terms of what to expect, buying a ticket to the show is like purchasing a licence to be smug in about 3-5 years' time. When all five of us are on TV, you’ll be able to tell your friends that you saw us before we were famous.
-- What drew you to comedy? When did you decide it was for you?
I knew that if I never tried comedy I’d always regret it which is what prompted me to do my first gig but it went so badly that I didn’t perform again for a year. When I finally came back to it it went a little better and I’ve been hooked since.
-- Who are you excited to see this MICF?
There are so many incredible shows at this year’s festival. Dane Simpson (who’s on immediately after my show in the same room) is a must-see. Emma Holland is a future superstar. Chris Marlton is a master of character comedy. Aaron Chen should permanently be in the running for best show.
-- Where do you go to eat and drink during the festival?
I’ve recently gone vego but I adore fried chicken and the Lord of Fries chicken burger is as good as the real thing so you can find me hanging around there after gigs.
When it comes to drink, Little Lon, the CBD’s only distillery, is such a cool spot for pre-gig cocktail or a post-bomb identity crisis.
-- Besides comedy, what else are you fanatical about?
This is a weird one, but I’m fanatical about lambs. During the pandemic I lived on a fa
rm for a while and I hand raised four merino lambs who are the sweetest, most incredible creatures. God calls his followers his lambs for a reason. I became (arguably) unhealthily attached to these lambs to the point where I’m considering getting them tattooed on me.
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Image: Jay Wymarra // PHOTO: RICKI VALE PHOTOGRAPHY
Jay Wymarra (QLD)
Whether performing stand-up comedy, acting or gracing the stage as fabulous drag queen, Rhianna Mation, Jay Wymarra, a Deadly Funny National Finalist, is a crowd favourite and a formidable presence. He is a unique voice and a staunch activist for the rights of people across all spectrums and fandoms.
-- Are you excited to be performing at MICF this year?
As excited as a cat with a laser pointer!
-- Tell us about your show, what can audiences expect from it?
There's something magical about discovering the new and untapped in festivals like this. If you find it, forever after you can say that you were there when the new crop of talented and brilliant comedians came through before taking over the world. That's what you can expect from Comedy Zone. Brilliant comics cementing themselves in the genre and in your memory.
-- What drew you to comedy? When did you decide it was for you?
Honestly? I made a bet with a school friend and got hooked on the first time I made a whole room laugh. I wrestled with the decision for years to commit and then, one day when I noticed there was nothing else I actually wanted to pursue, it hit me that comedy was the path.
-- Who are you excited to see this MICF?
Lauren Bonner is always at the top of my list! Followed closely by Jude Perl, Rosie Piper, and Scout Boxall.
-- Where do you go to eat and drink during the festival?
Not really sure. Anywhere I can take a friend and we have a nice long discussion over the food. Open to recommendations, if you have any.
-- Besides comedy, what else are you fanatical about?
Lord of the Rings and typewriters
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Image: He Huang performing onstage
He Huang (VIC)
He Huang is originally from Chongqing, China. She began stand-up comedy four years ago and has performed in China, Bangkok and Cambodia before gigging in Melbourne and making it to the 2021 RAW Comedy National Final. Her comfort foods include hotpot, chunky fries, Doritos, phở, Korean tofu soup, sunflower seeds and chicken feet.
-- Are you excited to be performing at MICF this year?
Of course, I am very excited to be included in the Comedy Zone this year and it means a lot to me as a newer comedian and someone who is passionate about stand up comedy.
-- Tell us about your show, what can audiences expect from it?
Our show is called Comedy Zone and it is presented by Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In this show, you will get to have a glimpse of five comedians from different states and different backgrounds doing their best 10 minutes. Every day at 9pm and Sunday at 8pm. We are doing a whole run - 22 shows. Personally, I am very excited and honoured to be included in the cast this year and cannot wait to make people laugh again together with the other four awesome fellow comedians.
-- What drew you to comedy? When did you decide it was for you?
I like how comedy is honest and you get immediate feedback on your work. Unlike my previous work, which is frustrating, and the end-result may not be what we want it to be. I am very intrigued by the fact that different word combinations can trigger laughter and it is a very humbling profession to make you work all the time and have fun as well. I enjoy the adrenaline rush!
-- Who are you excited to see this MICF?
Aaron Chen, Carl Barron, Chris Ryan, Fern Brady, Phil Wang, Jason Leong, Stuart Daulman, Josh Glanc, Oliver Coleman and Blake Everett.
-- Where do you go to eat and drink during the festival?
Mostly I will eat at home! Comedians are poor! But occasionally I will go eat at Chinese restaurants in the city.
-- Besides comedy, what else are you fanatical about?
I love travelling and good food and good liquor as well. The older I am, the more I am into whiskey on rocks!
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Event details:
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
March 30 – April 24 2022
Various locations
Buy MICF tickets: here
Buy Comedy Zone Tickets: here
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MAIN IMAGE: Melbourne International Comedy Festival // PHOTO: JIM LEE
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