This year, the Bris Funny Fest is funnier than ever. The organisers have told me that there are more than 70 performances during the 2018 season, over 26 days. So how do you decide what to see? Here are some ideas to help you narrow down the shows to a manageable number over the coming weeks.
LocationThis is an easy one as there are some locations which are convenient to get to because they are local, in your community, or near transport. The main Brisbane zones are the CBD, plus the inner-city like Springhill, the Valley, Milton and the Gabba, and a few outer suburbs too. See at the end of the article for a list of the main suburbs.
Heya Bar in the Valley (May Cross)
You will find a few of the shows in theatres but they are also hosted in pubs, bars and cafes. There are some traditional venues where shows are being performed such as
Metro Arts. One of my favourite venues is the
Heya Bar in the Valley and it's also the official home of the Bris Funny Fest. Try exploring an unusual venue for an alternate comedy experience.
Metro Arts in Edward Street (May Cross)
Now that you have chosen the location and the venue, when can you go? You have four weeks, from Wednesday 1 August to Sunday 26 August, to see a number of shows. Some people (like myself) cram in as many as they can, others take it at a slower pace. I am planning to go to several shows across the festival, in the evenings and on the weekends.
Title or description catches your attention
Check out the program list to see what stands out. There are some very weird-sounding shows and bizarre names. These are some of the strangest names which I found appealing:
The Time I Punched a Stegosaurus to Pluto – Andy Thompson tells tall tales and other outrageous lies.
Douche Canoe – get down and dirty with stand-up comic Anna Brennan.
Bedroom Hindu – Ashwin Segkar is a comedian and clown.
Andy Thompson (image from organiser's website)
Does comedy have genres? Sure it does. What's your style and taste in entertainment? There will be stand-up comics, of course, but there are also plays, cabaret, storytelling, improvisation, clowning around and so on. Some of the acts defy labelling, but they all have one thing in common – they are FUNNY.
Random picksIf you are not fussy about the genre and have an adventurous sense of humour, go random. Just pick anything with no preconceived ideas. You may discover the unexpected or the new, be amazed, be amused, or pleasantly surprised but hopefully not disappointed. There is a lot of variety (both diversity AND entertainment) out there. You are sure to experience something different and I'm all for having experiences, so get out of your comfort zone and help nurture local Brisbane talent. This may sound like a funny way to choose a show but give it a go.
Michael Toon (image from organiser's website)
We all want to get the most out of our entertainment dollars. Fortunately, some of the performances are free e.g.
Comedy at the Manhattan Line. Many other shows are cheap, from as little as $5.00 as they don't have the high overheads of traditional theatres; and most gigs are great value at $10.00 to $15.00. Every Wednesday night during the Fest is
Open Mic Night at Heya from 7.30 pm for only $5.00. There are also special offers for groups, so grab a table for friends.
Recommendations
Word of mouth is usually a good indicator of what's hot and what's not. Listening to friends and social media will be useful once the festival has started but if you are planning ahead here are a few of my recommendations:
1.
While You Were Sleeping – one-man shows by polymath Michael Toon (one of his shows has already sold out).
2.
Yeah the Boys! – a pandemonic play by some oddly named millennials.
3.
Budding Comics: The Return, Parts I & II – this show sold out last year so is sure to be a hot ticket this year. Tickets are $15.00 but you can see both shows (14 comics) for $25.00.
4.
Work in Progress - Damian Power is a funny bugger and one of my favourite Queensland comedians, and he's appearing at Heya Bar.
The Cool Heya Bar (May Cross)
It's not so easy to read reviews of Bris Funny Fest until after the festival starts, as so many of the performances are brand new. However, there are some shows that have been showcased previously and so you will be able to find reviews online. One example is
The Breast of the Fest, which has had sold out shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. I will publish my reviews and original photos on WeekendNotes of some of the shows I go to. (You can subscribe to me to ensure you don't miss them.)
A full fest guide is
here and you can book tickets online.
How do YOU decide what to see?
