Festival veterans know late nights are for the Festival Club at Max Watt's. Once the shows are over for the night, the funny folk head over to the festival's excellent afterparty. Things go late, things go wild, and things get weird. It's among the most fun events of the festival, with different events on every night. Special guests often appear unannounced at the club, both on and off stage. Funny folk are at their best when impressing each other – so it's like a pick'n'mix of the funniest bits of the festival.
Tuesday, April 5, 12 and 19 ($10)
They don't call it tightarse Tuesday for nothing. On these dates you can see ten comedians for a measly ten bucks. The roster changes each time, but it's always the best-value entertainment in town.
Wednesday, April 6 ($15)
Is there a bigger shower of clowns than that found in Parliament House? If you like political comedy, this is the night for you. It's all satire, all politics, all smart (and smartarse).
Wednesday, April 13 ($15)
Josh Earl presents the 300th episode of his smash-hit podcast, Don't You Know Who I Am? It's part quiz, part interview, part show and entirely funny.
Wednesday, April 20 ($15)
Rob Hunter's Late O'Clock show is the strangest talk show you're likely to see this month. There will be celebrity guests, very strange sketches and a lot of awkward comedy.
Thursdays and Fridays ($20)
The Comedy Bonanza is among the wildest and most unhinged of the shows at Festival Club, and to be honest, it's among our favourites. You never know who you're going to get, but you can be guaranteed that you probably shouldn't bring your nan. Some of the festival's biggest names try out new material, do small sections of their shows, improvise completely or just get rude. We can't promise everyone will keep their clothes on or their mouths clean, but we can promise you'll be screaming with laughter.
Saturday, April 2 ($20)
If you like it silly, ridiculous or ludicrous, The Big Weird is the show for you. Only you know if really weird comedy is for you, but if it is, this is the best place to get it.
Saturday, April 9 ($20)
If you haven't ever seen Reuben Kaye, well, strap in. The Kaye Hole is a messy musical extravaganza of off-colour jokes and rude humour backed by a live band. Kaye's makeup is always flawless, his material always blue, and his audience always crying with laughter. Don't bring your mum.
Saturday, April 16 ($20)
Celebrate the oldest culture on Earth at Caboriginal, a show comprising drag, cabaret, music and more from some of the country's finest Indigenous artists.
Saturday, April 23 ($20)
The brilliant Michelle Brasier hosts Comedians on Stage Auditioning for Musicals, which is a must for those whose Venn diagram between stand-up and musical theatre is a perfect circle. Some of MICF's biggest names will be auditioning for their dream musical roles, with hilarious results. Expect showtunes, jazz hands and failure.
Sunday, April 3 ($15)
If you love your comedy on the longer side, Backyard Stories is the show for you. Four comedians will expound upon one topic. It takes longer than your setup-joke, setup-joke format, so settle in, grab a drink and follow along.
Sunday, April 10 ($15)
Calling all improv fans: the best in the biz will be facing off at the Improv Throwdown. No request too silly, no premise too mad for these consummate maker-uppers. It's a battle to the most ridiculous, so get ready for some pretty great "yes and"s.
Sunday, April 17 ($15)
Berlin band Die Roten Punkte are here to "rock the haus" at Haus Party, along with DJ Andrew McClelland (yes, of Mr McClelland's Finishing School fame). This is musical comedy, circus, variety and most of all an epic party.
The Late, Late Show
If you're up very late, some of the best shows start at 12.30am. Here's what night owls can look forward to.
Thursday, April 14
Yes, it's Thursday, but tomorrow is Good Friday, so celebrate the eve of a public holiday with Beatbox, hosted by Andy Saunders and Tina Del Twist. It does what it says on the tin: comedians will be rapping, breakdancing and beatboxing together at an onstage jam session. It puts the good in Good Friday.
Friday, April 1, 8, 15 and 22
One of our absolute favourite Festival Club stalwarts is the Lip Sync Battle, hosted by RuPaul's Drag Race star judge MICF fave Rhys Nicholson. Comedians go all out, with costumes, props and utter silliness in this battle for lip sync supremacy.
Saturday, April 23
Say thank you to the medical professionals who have literally saved all of our lives these last two years with Geraldine Quinn's Spandex Ballet tribute show to doctors and nurses. Humour and songs promise to be "medically adjacent", but really, it's mostly just a whole lot of fun. After all, isn't laughter really the best medicine?
