Well the Covid lockdowns are definitely over, and one bonus is the who’s who of high-level comedians arriving for the 2023 Perth Comedy Festival. The lineup this year is insane. Here are 6 quick tips to help you with your decision.
My tips are:
- Gala Nights
If you do nothing else, make sure you check out a Gala Night where around 10 comedians do 5 minutes each. You never know who you’re going to get and that’s part of the fun. Last night we were surprised by around a dozen top notch comedians including Reuben Kaye, Jeff Green, Paul Foot and Stephen K Amos. Talk about value for money. The next two Gala nights are on May 10th and 17th. DO NOT MISS THEM!
2. Surprise packages
There’s a lot to be said for sticking with the tried and true and this year there are so many high-profile comedians on the bills it’s almost impossible to pick. However, I highly recommend checking out someone new. The Gala night introduced me to the following artists who I am definitely going to look up – Kai Humphries (UK), Alfred Adriaan (RSA), Daniel Fernandes (IND)
3. International comedians
International heavyweights include David O’Doherty (IRE), Dylan Moran (UK), Danny Bhoy (SCO), Daniel Sloss (SCO), Ismo (FI), Jason Leong (MY), Kumarsutra (SG), Stephen K Amos (UK) and Sarah Pascoe (UK). Then there’s TikTok and Instagram sensation Troy Hawke (UK), Lebanese/American stand-up comedian NEMR (LBN/US) and London’s West End – Sh!tfaced Shakespeare. I can highly recommend Dylan Moran, Danny Bhoy and Stephen K Amos. Last night Amos relayed a very interesting encounter with Prince Harry. Some of these artists may have already been and gone so make sure you don’t miss out on the others.
4. Home grown
Don’t forget the home-grown talent including Wil Anderson, Charles Firth, James Schloeffel, Nat’s What I Reckon, Reuben Kaye, Akmal, Luke Heggie, Rhys Nicholson, Sammy J, Tommy Little, Wil Anderson and Bob Downe to name a few.
5. Venues
The festival events are held at Riverside Theatre (Perth), the Perth Concert Hall (Perth) the Regal Theatre and Chorus Room (Subiaco), the Astor Theatre and Lounge (Mt Lawley), The Rechabite Hall/Goodwill Club (Northbridge), Planet Royale (Northbridge) and Freo Social (Fremantle). Aside from the usual big venues I can highly recommend the Astor Lounge for and intimate night out.
6. Meal and drink deals
Make sure you keep an eye out for meal and drinks deals at local cafes.
The Perth Comedy Festival is running until May 21, 2023. For more information go to Perth Comedy Festival 2023.
