Laughter will head to Geelong this week, with the region being the first stop on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s tour around the state.
The state government has increased its investment in the festival this year, which has allowed festival organisers to bring stand-up comedy to regional Victoria ahead of the festival’s opening in late March.
Geelong will host the first of the festival’s ‘Outta Town’ shows at the Geelong West Town Hall on Friday, February 11.
The show will be a double-header with a RAW Comedy heat show, hosted by Daniel Connell, showcasing the best amateur stand-up comedians from 6pm, before well-known Australians comics Geraldine Hickey, Nath Valvo and Brett Blake take the stage from 8.30pm.
The roadshow will then hit the road, visiting Mildura, Swan Hill, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Hamilton, Portland, Bendigo, Wangaratta and Wodonga throughout February and March.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival director Susan Provan said it was pleasing to be able to bring the best of the festival to Geelong.
“We are excited to be partnering with Visit Victoria to deliver greatly expanded opportunities for comedy fans in the coming months,” she said.
“The series of comedy weekends in regional Victoria will be a wonderful opportunity to bounce back and reconnect with our audiences and is a great excuse for a weekend getaway.”
Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula said the program, which has been funded through Visit Victoria as part of an $85 commitment to 113 Victorian creative arts entities announced this week, will bring economic benefit to businesses and communities impacted by the pandemic.
“The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is more than just a good time – it delivers major benefits to businesses and helps support local jobs,” he said.
“We’re investing in expanding the festival to fill more venues across Melbourne and regional Victoria.”
Details: comedyfestival.com.au/outtatown
