A large promotional teardrop banner stands in foreground. In the background is the Civic Theatre facade with the building mural.
LAUGHS AHEAD: Wagga Comedy Fest starts this Thursday 6 June! Grab your mates or your family and get ready for five days of belly-aching laughter.
Arts & Culture

Get ready for a festival of laughs

Published: 05 Jun 2024 10:10am

The Civic Theatre’s Wagga Comedy Fest starts this Thursday 6 June, and it’s not too late to secure your tickets to see some of Australia’s funniest people.

Held over five days, the festival will tickle every funny bone with a selection of 21 shows and workshops showcasing a mix of local comedians and nationally acclaimed artists.

Council’s Manager Civic Theatre Claire Harris shares her ‘hot tip’ for this year’s festival, saying “if you enjoyed Bidgee Theatre’s Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which hit the Civic Theatre stage earlier this year, then you will love the Briefs Boys in Dirty Laundry.”

There is plenty of local flavour with Wagga Wagga personalities Jamie Way, Sally Bryant, Isobel MacCallum, Chris Roe, Ashleigh Baxter, Leigh Ryan and Miss Wagga Velika Hayes engaging in The Great Wagga Comedy Fest Debate on Thursday night.

A man dressed in casual clothing speaks into a microphone in front of a theatre curtain. His hands and arms are splayed outwards from his body, palms facing forward. Blurred heads of audience members can be seen.
WILL ANDERSON: The comedian’s show ‘Wilegitimate’ is on during the Wagga Comedy Fest on Saturday 8 June, at 6pm.

Nationally acclaimed comedians will also hit the Wagga Wagga comedy scene, including Mel Buttle, Geraldine Hickey, Tom Gleeson, Wil Anderson, Lizzy Hoo and Dave Thornton.

There are opportunities for more hands-on fun and laughter with the Finding the Fun clowning workshop by Jeromaia Detto, a kids’ comedy workshop with Mr Snot Bottom, Bogan Bingo, The Gong Show ‘open mic’ session, and Shad and Pete Save the World featuring audience interaction.

Three people stand in a horizontal line wearing clown noses on their faces. They appear to be smiling and laughing. Out of focus in the foreground, the backs of other people can be seen. They are watching the people in clown noses.
CLOWN: Be introduced to clowning with Jeromaia Detto’s ‘Finding the Fun’ clown workshop, on Saturday 8 June at 2pm.

Audience will have the option to meet with friends and family between comedy shows in the Laugh Lounge: a toasty marquee serving food and drinks from local vendors, set up on the Civic Theatre Lawns.

Tickets are still available across multiple shows over the Wagga Comedy Fest but get in quick as they are selling fast.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Civic Theatre website or contact the Box Office on 6926 9688.