Sydney Festival Comedy Line-Up

words by josh ives

We all love a laugh, don’t we? Whether it’s the faintest of chuckles to straight up, struggling-for-air belly laughs, I think we can all agree it’s the feel good emotion that’ll brighten anyone’s day.

We all know by now that old ditty: ‘laughter is the best medicine’, right? Patch Adams, anyone? But have you ever wondered how and why that turn of phrase came about? Let me fill you in.

Laughter is the physical response to certain stimuli. That stimuli can be external – a good joke, or internal – like that weird moment you crack up when you stub your toe to keep from crying! A good laugh helps to relieve tension as endorphins rush in to say g’day. Stress is reduced and muscles are left relaxed for up to 45 minutes. Get this: laughter even increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, improving your resistance to disease. You hear that? Get laughing! Doctor’s orders.

What’s better than laughing by yourself at a joke you just heard? Why, it’s laughing for hours on end with a theatre packed with others howling at your favourite comedian of course! Get ready to start the new year on a high, because Sydney Festival has a solid line-up of comedy to wrap your giggle around.

Check out the lineup and hand-pick your go-to shows from the classic comics you grew up watching, or dare yourself to go out on a limb and see a fresh new up and coming talent – they may just steal the show! Here’s a quick list of my top three just to get you in the mood:

Celia Pacquola
You may know this incredible talent as the multi-award winning comedian and star of the ABC special Utopia and Rosehaven, but you may not be aware of the fact that she absolutely tears it up on stage! Give this girl a mic, a stage, 50 mins and she will leave everyone in that room gasping for air! Her critically acclaimed solo show takes the viewer through the journey of a 30-something woman’s journey through life, as told through the eccentric eyes of this gem.

Felicity Ward
Now I’m sure you’re gonna remember this gal by face! Having appeared on many an Aussie TV show through the years, you wouldn’t pass by ‘Flick” without a second turn-a-round glance; but you just wait – her innocent face and stunning smile is just a mask to disguise her devilishly wicked sense of humour. I’m talking pure shock factor, ballsy, in-your-face stuff that will leave you hilariously in awe, and possibly a little frightened. Check out her livewire style as she talks about her anxiety without being earnest. Revel in the wonders of her latest idea: ‘Chicken Karaoke’ and try not to take a sip of wine as she describes the correct etiquette of swimming pools, for fear it may drench the head of your forwards neighbour!

Otto & Astrid
What do you get when you combine dysfunctional orphan siblings from Berlin with a cabaret style comedic musical set? Why, it can only be the hilariously whacky duo of Otto & Astrid. With the musical passion of Queen, mixed with the crazy energy of The Ramones, this crazy act somehow manage to showcase the best and worst of Eurovision into one amazing night. Musical comedy is a hard gig to pull off: get it wrong and you just look ridiculous! Only a handful of people can get laughs in the key of E minor – Bill Bailey, Tim Minchin and Otto & Astrid. Don’t miss out on this show. You’ll regret it.

Now all you need to do is purchase tickets, I put a link to those tickets right HERE.