The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is deadly serious about developing the art of comedy all across the country and in 2007 is thrilled to announce a new initiative, with the assistance of the Australia Council for the Arts and the City of Melbourne, the inaugural Deadly Funny ATSI Comedy Competition.
Deadly Funny is a comedy program and competition for Indigenous Victorians, developed and run by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Five Victorian Cultural Heritage regions will be represented, ensuring a State Grand Final showcasing some of our funniest up-and-coming Indigenous stand-up comics.
The Comedy Festival will send established comedians to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) communities in every corner of the state, to hold workshops and community showcase gigs with emerging Indigenous performers. The best of the best will play off at the Deadly Funny Grand Final at the Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday 21 April at 5pm.
Susan Provan, Festival Director, is excited about the Indigenous talent Deadly Funny will uncover in 2007. “The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is committed to bringing rising stars within the ATSI community to the forefront of Australian comedy. This event will have audiences laughing their ‘moom’ off!”
Dr Chris Sarra, Chair of the Australia Council for the Arts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board said that the Board was delighted to support the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s first ever Australia Council funding application.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history is based on oral traditions and our Board is very pleased to support these traditions in a new, fresh format. Deadly Funny is an exciting avenue for up-and-coming Indigenous comedians to become involved in our country’s biggest and best comedy festival and express their unique stories and humour,” said Dr Sarra.
Deadly Funny is a unique opportunity for Victoria’s ATSI peoples to come together, celebrate their own distinctive humour and at the same time get an exclusive joke doctoring from some of Australia’s funniest comedy experts. Finalists are in the running to win $1000 cash and a deadly trophy.
Registration is free and is now open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents across Victoria who are not professional comedy performers. There is no age limit and no experience is necessary.
Registrations: www.comedyfestival.com.au/specialevents/deadlyfunny
Check local guides for gigs in your area and www.comedyfestival.com.au
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