The Sydney Comedy Scene

By Ben Stephens.

Sydney’s comedy scene can at times lack that certain vibe that makes Melbourne the true comedy capital of Australia, well, according to most touring comedians. But then again if you look just a little harder at the Sydney comedy scene, it is there, it’s definitely a thing and you should probably catch a show in the near future. I won’t lie to you, this was a tough assignment, to bring you a tried and tested heads up on where to get a solid belly laugh, consume beer and support the comedy art form. From stand up nights to 70 minutes of pure comedic gold, this is where the best laughs in town can be found.

Café Lounge

Tucked away on Goulburn Street, just off Crown in Surry Hills, you’ll find a lit up sign of a red lounge armchair. What this represents on Monday night is The Comedy Lounge from 7pm. Typically these nights are sold out, so bookings are very much advised. The lineup is a solid representation of Sydney’s local scene, from Michael Workman to Becky Lucas. The Lounge will also play host to travelling comics that are after a small club, boisterous audience vibe. Also if you’re feeling the need to stand up and offer your best ten minutes, the team at the Lounge can make that a reality – drop them a line and they’ll sort you out with a spot. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for cheap tickets as well as food and drink specials, speaking of which, happy hour is from 5-7 (the cocktail jugs are on point and the pizzas are straight outta flavour-country).

Comedy Store

Make tracks for the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park, head up the stairs to the bar at the Comedy Store, grab a couple of chilled brews and make your way into the theatre to catch some of the hottest acts from Oz and beyond. Here you will find Australian heavyweights like Lawrence Mooney, Wil Anderson and Fiona O’Loughlin and when it comes to the international acts, they can be found on the same stage enjoying the intimate layout of the Store. Raw Comedy has just started and will run until March, discovering the next generation in Australian comedy. For a full lineup of up coming acts, check out the Comedy Store website.

Giant Dwarf     

Giant Dwarf was a nickname given to Andrew Denton from the team at the ever-hilarious comedy cluster The Chaser, who now have taken on the Giant Dwarf Theatre to produce some deep belly laughs. From erotic fan fiction to Bear Pack improv, the lineup here is always well curated. A highlight of this time of year is Comedyish, a trial night for comics heading to Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. You’ll see comics like Matt Okine, Rhys Nicholson and Zoe Combs Marr try out their shows before they take them to the big time. Tickets to Comedyish are cheap for the acts you’ll get to see, real cheap, like $12 cheap… I’ve paid more for a beer. You can find them on their website.

Go on, ‘ave a laugh.