Theatre
MICF 2017: 12 ladies that will make you LOL
We’re turning the spotlight on some of the best female comics appearing at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Kicking off on 29 March and running right through to 23 April, there are heaps of hilarious women on the 2017 line-up ready to make you lol.
Make a note of these names before all the antics kick off.
Check full listings and secure tickets to all these acts and more at Ticketmaster.com.au/comedyfestival.
1. Jenny Éclair – How To Be A Middle Ages Woman (Without Going Insane)
Self-confessed grumpy old woman, amateur soup maker and wine enthusiast, English comedian Jenny Eclair puts middle-age under the microscope and decides whether to laugh, cry of buy a dachshund. Her in-your-face humour and caustic asides are sharper than ever. Oh, and you don’t have to be a middle-aged woman to find her hilarious.
2. Ruby Wax – Frazzled
The British comedian is already the talk of the Comedy Festival and it hasn’t even started yet. Such is her unique brand of sassy and smart humour, focusing on everything she’s come to understand about the human mind. Did we mention she graduated from Oxford three years ago? So you might even learn a thing or two during this set.
3. Emily Heller (appearing in Headliners)
Named a ‘New Face’ at the 2012 Montreal Just For Laughs Festival and ‘Comic to Watch’ by both Variety and Comedy Central, American comedian and writer Emily Heller joins the Headliners line up at 2017’s MICF. She may be a reliative newbie but she’s got plenty of stories to tell.
4. Liza Treyger
We’ve all got one of those friends who’s a little foul-mouthed and full of hilarious life stories, and Liza Treyger is taking up that much-adored role for the Comedy Festival. With her stand-up described as ‘straightforward and a little off-kilter’, it’s her honesty that you’ll fall in love with.
5. DeAnne Smith – Post-Joke Era
If you reckon the world is a joke, this Canadian/American comic is right there with you. After all, as her show blurb reads, it’s hard to stay positive in a world filled with misogyny, racism and rising nationalism but if there’s one woman for the job, it’s this smart and spontaneous stand-up.
6. Urzila Carlson – Unacceptable
This South African/NZ comic is the person you turn to when you want to say it how it really is. Think the new ‘it’ band are rubbish? Fed up of people being even worse? Then this is a MICF show you’ll wholeheartedly relate to.
7. Janelle James (appearing in Headliners)
Carribean-born, New York-based Janelle is relatable and raunchy in equal parts, discussing everything from family life to her, shall we say, ‘adult’ career pursuits in now-trademark dry sense of humour. It’s no surprise she’s being dubbed one to watch at MICF.
8. Fortune Feimster (appearing in Headliners)
You may recognise Feimster from her part as Nurse Colette on The Mindy Project, or maybe you spotted her on Glee or even Chelsea Lately. Basically, she’s a TV star now but if you think she’s funny on screen, just wait until you see her stand-up routine.
9. Josie Long – Something Better
This three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee from the UK returns to Australia with more optimism than we ever thought possible. While heartbroken at the state of the world Josie is introspective and enthusiastic, a positive political rabble-rouser in the face of uncertain times.
10. Emma Sidi (appearing in New Order)
You can expect heaps of energy, passion and really funny levels of ridiculousness when Emma takes to the stage. Not forgetting equal doses of obsession, revenge and some seriously threatening dance moves to mix things up a bit. You might be exhausted just watching her.
11. Anne Edmonds – No Offence, None Taken
In Anne, you’re looking at one of Australia’s most exciting comedians. No Offence, None Taken sees her continue her hilarious run after several stellar years on the front line of stand-up comedy. Long may it continue.
12. Laura Davis – Cake In The Rain
Always a cult favourite some festival season, Laura is dark, bold and equipped with a razor-sharp wit. Both refreshing and sort of bewildering, she’ll have you asking more questions than you’re able to answer as you find escapism in her unbelievable talent.
That’s not the end of female talent on show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival either, we highly suggest you look up Cal Wilson, Susie Youssef, Hannah Gadsby, Sarah Kendall, Nikki Britton, Demi Lardner, Amelia Jane Hunter, Shirley Gnome, Mel Buttle, Mae Martin, Danielle Walker and more at Ticketmaster.com.au/comedyfestival.
The 31st Melbourne International Comedy Festival takes place across the city from 29 March until 23 April.
