Comics' Guide to the Sydney Comedy Festival

Olivia Watson
26th Apr 2017

The 13th Annual Sydney Comedy Festival is taking off in venues around town from this week until May 21, bringing belly laughs to crowds of all shapes and sizes, courtesy of a plethora of local and international artists.

Sydney Scoop is taking advice from the experts this year. We asked some of our talented local comics for their recommendations of gigs not to be missed in the 2017 line up - read on for their suggestions.

Alice Fraser is a writer, comedian, podcaster, and even at one point lawyer, who brings her next hit show "Empire" to this year's festival after a slew of international successes. 

Alice tells us she would "heavily recommend" Larry Dean for his "straight up comedy" and "gut laughs", describing a show of his as "a bit clever, very much a good night out".

Larry Dean (Scotland) plays the Factory Theatre with his show Farcissist May 3-7, 8.15pm (7.15pm Sunday).

Another top Fraser pick is Luke Heggie, winner of this year's "Piece of Wood" Comics' Choice award at the recent Melbourne International Comedy Festival, whose humour she describes as "brutal, dry as dust and incisive like a scalpel you don't know has cut you til you're bleeding laughter".

To experience this curious sounding sensation, check out Heggie's Rough Diamante at the Enmore Theatre May 4-7 & 11-14, 8.15pm (7.15pm Sundays).

Alice Fraser's Empire is on at the Enmore Theatre May 4-7, 9.30pm (8.30pm Sunday).

James Colley, creator of SBS Comedy's The Backburner and expert satirist, points to Sydney's Bridie Connell as his pick of the unmissable talent of the festival.

"Bridie Connell is an absurd talent. She weaves her stories beautifully, pulling hilarity out of the smallest moments. She builds characters you instantly love or hate. She paints a picture so remarkably well that you'd believe this "New Zealand" she speaks about is a real place, rather than just something made up in her mind."

Bridie, a National Theatresports Champion, star of Australia's Whose Line Is It Anyway? and all-round veteran of the Sydney improv scene, brings her show Player to the Factory Theatre May 11, 13 (7pm) and 14 (6pm).

You can also catch her as one half of the improv duo MotherFather, with Tom Walker, who hit the Factory Theatre May 4, 6 (8.15pm) and 7 (7.15pm).

James Colley's brand new show Dirt By Sea plays at the Factory April 28-30, 8.15pm (7.15pm Sun). 

Penny Greenhalgh is a writer, producer and performer, a regular on the Sydney comedy scene with previous appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her pick is Nikki Britton with "Romanticide".

"Nikki is an exceptional comic, I get such a kick out of watching her perform."

"I've had the pleasure of gigging with Nikki in shows all around the country and without fail she has the room in thigh-slapping fits of laughter from the first minute every time. She's super high energy, she's incredibly charming and her act outs make me cry with laughter. I can't recommend her highly enough."

Romanticide plays the Factory May 3-7, 8.15pm (7.15pm Sun).

Penny Greenhalgh takes Pony Greenhorse to the Factory May 18, 20 (9.30pm) and 21 (8.30pm).

Carlo Ritchie, spinner of yarns and half of well-loved improv team The Bear Pack, tells us to check out Confetti Gun.

"They're a terrific group of improvisers and it's always an incredible show. Fast paced, slick and super funny."

"They've been on the scene only a year and already they're making waves, I try and see them as often as possible. The whole show is improvised you can see them every night of their run if you're keen, you won't be disappointed. I never am."

You'll find improv troupe Confetti Gun at the Factory, May 10 & 12, 9.30pm.

Carlo Ritchie's solo journey through romance, linguistics, the future freedom of New England and more, Cooking For No One, plays at the Factory, April 27-30, 7pm (6pm Sunday) after a well received run at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

His improv duo gig The Bear Pack (with Steen Raskopoulos) kicks off at Giant Dwarf April 28, 8.30pm, and returns May 5, 8.15pm. They're joined by Ange Lavoipierre who provides an improvised soundtrack on cello.

Sophie Long is a writer, performer and storyteller who wants to try and scare her next Sydney audience.

Sophie recommends “Sexy Legal Drama" by Define Happy - "an awesome new sketch troupe". She loved their debut at the Sydney Fringe festival last year and describes the group as a "great blend of satire and absurdity".

Sexy Legal Drama hits the Factory April 29 (5.45pm) and 30th (4.45pm).

Sophie's other pick is Lily Starr with her new solo show. She tells us, "I first saw Lily in the Sydney Fringe festival last year as part of the duo Catlovers and she made me snort laugh. Highly recommended".

Lily Starr makes her Sydney Comedy Festival debut with You're Welcome at the Factory May 11, 13 (7pm) and 14 (6pm).

You'll find Sophie Long's Wendigo: A Comedy With Teeth at the Factory, April 27-28, 9.30pm.

For more information and the full lineup, check the Sydney Comedy Festival website.

Tickets (which start at $15) are available through the links included above.