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Since 2005 the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has been asking – can they crack The Funny Tonne? Well after last year’s efforts The Funny Tonne is well and truly cracked.

Last year two out of the three contestants in this event for comedy tragics saw more than 110 shows – that was half of the entire Festival. This year the Festival is bigger again and the heat is on our soon-to-be-chosen ‘Tonners’ to see as many shows as possible. It’s no longer about breaking the tonne. 100 shows is for wimps. This year we want to see how far comedy lovers will go to see the most Comedy Festival shows and win The Funny Tonne title.

In 2006 Erin Davidson, a 21 year-old graphic designer from Altona North, saw 123 shows in 22 days. She went from being a once a year comedy attendee to writing reviewing regularly for websites and niche press. Can she be stopped in 2007?

Don’t miss the 'Amazing Race' of comedy, the world's premier competitive audience challenge. The Funny Tonne is a race to see who, if anyone, can see every single show in the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Our Funny Tonne contestants will be issued with a special Comedy Passport that they use to verify their attendance at shows. At the end of the Festival, the contestant with proof of attendance at the most number of Festival shows wins the coveted 2007 trophy (which is a box of dusty old joke books we found in the store room while cleaning up over Christmas).

Check the contestants’ progress on The Funny Tonne leader board outside the Melbourne Town Hall and read their daily reviews on the Comedy Festival website at www.comedyfestival.com.au. The ultimate winner of the competition will be announced at the Barry Awards Night at the Festival Club on Saturday 28 April.

If you think you've got what it takes to be a Funny Tonner, registations are now open at: www.comedyfestival.com.au/specialevents/tonne