HARLEY BREEN – PERSONAL SPACE

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FRIDAY APRIL 2, SATURDAY APRIL 3, SUNDAY APRIL 4

Harley Breen is fascinated by architecture and the spaces humans build – mainly because at 6 foot 4 and 110 kilos, he doesn’t fit into many of them! From ancient Rome to suburban McMansions to the quintessential “Queenslander” itself, the places we build say a lot about the people we are, and it doesn’t always make sense.

In what is an inspired act of either lunacy or genius, as part of his preparation for this show, Harley is going to lock himself in a three metre square bathroom for 42 hours and filmed the whole experience. Stand by for some – Seriously – Weird – Stories! 

In this hour of theatrical stand up, Harley re-enacts highlights from his night of exile on the tiles. He’s one of Australia’s hardest working and most respected stand-ups, and a fave of Festivals from Melbourne to Edinburgh, he’s returning to the Comedy Festival to laugh off the claustrophobia!

9.45pm/ 8.45pm Sundays Arthurs Bar 1 (at Rosati), 95 Flinders Lane

THE SHAMBLES - LIVE AT A BALLROOM

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WEDNESDAY APRIL 7, THURSDAY APRIL 8, SUNDAY APRIL 10

Cult comedy trio, The Shambles, return to MICF with a Brand New Show. Things happen in it, which is always a good selling point.

The Shambles combine satire, spoof, improv and a plethora of hilarious characters...with one crap one.

This unique stage romp sees the ARIA nominated comedy trio exist in a cartoonish world of their own creation.

So join Sos, Valvo & Lynchy on a brand new adventure - at the very least it's probably better than being stabbed.

"Best Of The Fest." The Age Online

"Work the crowd amazingly well. Not to be missed." The Funny Tonne

"****" The Age

Tue-Sat 9.30pm, Sun 8.30pm

Trades Hall (New Ballroom)
Cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton

MELINDA BUTTLE – SISTA GOT FLOW

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FRIDAY APRIL 2, SATURDAY APRIL 3, SUNDAY APRIL 4

Melinda Buttle is one of the brightest new talents on the national stand-up scene. You might have already seen Mel on The 7pm Project (Network Ten) or at the Josh Thomas Variety Hour. Either way, it’s definitely time to see her for yourself at her first ever solo show – oh, and you have to see her rap battle!

Possibly Australia’s only juvenile delinquent-teaching, rap-battling, Twitterific gourmand to ever don a vintage frock on the comedy stage, to say that Mel is a hilarious bundle of contradictions - is an understatement. And not to get too Susan Boyle on you, she has, um, never been kissed.

Emerging from in the Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Raw Comedy competition as Queensland’s national finalist in 2008, Mel is now a familiar face on the robust Brisbane comedy circuit, and making waves on the Melbourne and Sydney scene to boot.

9.30pm / 8.30pm Sundays Melbourne Town Hall, Backstage Room

JOSH EARL VS. THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY CAKE BOOK

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FRIDAY APRIL 2, SATURDAY APRIL 3, SUNDAY APRIL 4

Swimming pools, race cars, steam trains, robots... the Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book had it all! Australian Mums fashioned entire scale-model metropolises from the combined powers of sheer maternal dedication, Ita Buttrose’s cooking editor, and store-bought sponges. 

In 1985 Josh Earl’s Mum, Lyn purchased this book, and changed the history of the Earl Family forever.

In 2008 Josh was performing a show in which he briefly referred to this book. The reaction was like nothing he had experiences before. Clearly, he had discovered a talisman of eighties childhood right up there with Atari and the Rubik’s cube.

All Nights 7pm Swiss Club, 89 Flinders Lane 

NELLY THOMAS IN COULDA BEEN A SAILOR

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FRIDAY APRIL 2, SATURDAY APRIL 3, SUNDAY APRIL 4

Nelly was asked by her grade three teacher what she wanted to be when she grew up. She replied that she wanted to be a pirate so she could steal things. Her friend Ian said he wanted to be a paper-clip so he could hold together important documents going to Tasmania. Turns out, not all dreams come true.

No one could have dreamed up what actually happened. Nelly climbed the career ladder from check-out chick to professional rooster. She became a spectacularly flawed Nutrimetics saleswoman, only to emerge as a professional social policy PHd wonk. 

Nowadays she’s a stand-up comedian and director, co-writer of sketch comedy for indigenous theatre and her health-message based comedy shows were recently highlighted in a Victoria government policy document. Nelly Thomas is one of Australia’s most natural and intelligent performers. 

Swinging fast and boldly between refined social satire and a guilty gorging on junk TV, you’d be hard pressed to find a more engaging, challenging stand up comedy experience.

8.15pm/7.15pm Sundays Melbourne Town Hall, Backstage Room

DAMIAN CALLINAN in THE MERGER – SPORTMAN’S NIGHT 2

WIN TICKETS FOR:
FRIDAY APRIL 2, SATURDAY APRIL 3, SUNDAY APRIL 4

In a sequel to his multi-award winning Sportsman’s Night, Damian revisits the dysfunctional Bodgy Creek Football Club. The township has seen better days – the mill’s closed; the Tidy Town sign has fallen into the long grass and the weir is as dry as a spinster’s gusset. The dying town is about to claim its next victim. 

Unable to field even one full side, the footy club will either have to fold or merge with their arch rivals – the Hudson’s Flat Redbacks. But prodigal son coach Troy Carrington has other ideas; to save the club and serve his socially aware agenda, he embarks on a program to recruit players from the Asylum Seekers Refuge Centre. 

Will the new players cope with pre season training whilst fasting for Ramadan?

8.30pm / 7.30pm Sundays Melbourne Town Hall, Regent Room