The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is on the hunt again for new fresh funny faces to join the ranks of Australia’s most prestigious open mic comedy competition in 2013.
Registrations for RAW Comedy are now open around the country, with heats to be held in 10 locations between January and March 2013.
RAW Comedy is the competition for those who have a few classic corkers up their sleeve ready to be unleashed. If there’s a joker sitting next to you at work or a pal who brags they’re the funniest at every backyard barbecue, tell them to head online to www.rawcomedy.com.au and put their hand up to impart some jest at their local heat.
Who knows? The next Wil Anderson, Chris Lilley, Pete Helliar, Claire Hooper, Tim Minchin, Ronny Chieng, Josh Thomas or Tom Ballard might be sitting right under your nose.
Professional comedians and comedy aficionados will tour the country to judge each heat, deciding who will go through to the big deal RAW Comedy Grand Final.
The Grand Final will pit the top 12 finalists from around Australia against one another up on the main stage of the Melbourne Town Hall, 5pm, 14 April 2013.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has been inviting fresh faces to the country’s comedy stages as part of RAW Comedy annually since 1996. Entrants must have earned less than $500 from comedy and have a short set of jokes ready to go for their local heat.
The winner of RAW Comedy National Grand Final in 2012was Lessons with Luis from Victoria.
Amos Gill from South Australia came equal runner up with Cameron James from New South Wales.
Australia’s most hallowed comedy competition is at your fingertips.
If you want to be in it, make sure you get in on the joke early.
Heats and finals
VICTORIA
Melbourne:
Qualifying Heat #1: Sat 12 Jan, 1pm. Doors 12.30pm The Evelyn Hotel 351 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Qualifying Heat #2: Sat 19 Jan, 1pm. Doors 12.30pm The Corner Hotel 57 Swan Street, Richmond Qualifying Heat #3: Sat 2 Feb, 1pm. Doors 12.30pm The Esplanade Hotel 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda Qualifying Heat #4: Sat 9 Feb, 1pm. Doors 12.30pm The Northcote Social Club 301 High Street, Northcote
Geelong: Heat #1: Sat 2 Feb, 7.30pm. 50 Little Malop Street, Geelong
VIC Finals: The Evelyn Hotel 351 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Preliminary Final #1: Tues 19 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm
Preliminary Final #2: Tues 26 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm
Preliminary Final #3: Tues 5 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm
Preliminary Final #4: Tues 12 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm
VIC State Final: Mon 18 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm
NEW SOUTH WALES
Sydney: Comedy Store Building 207/122 Land Road, Moore Park
Heat #1: Tues 15 Jan, Bar 7pm, Show 8pm
Heat #2: Tues 22 Jan, Bar 7pm, Show 8pm
Heat #3: Tues 29 Jan, Bar 7pm, Show 8pm
Heat #4: Tues 5 Feb, Bar 7pm, Show 8pm
Heat #5: Tues 12 Feb, Bar 7pm, Show 8pm
Heat #6: Tues 19 Feb, Bar 7pm, Show 8pm
Heat #7: Tues 26 Feb, Bar 7pm, Show 8pm
Byron Bay:
Heat #1: Mon 28 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm Pandanus Lounge, Byron Bay Services Club 132 Jonson Street
Newcastle:
Heat #1: Sat 16 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm Playhouse 375 Hunter Street, Newcastle
Wollongong:
Heat #1: Fri 22 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm Illawarra Performing Arts Centre 32 Burelli Street, Wollongong
NSW Finals: Comedy Store Building 207/122 Land Road, Moore Park
Semi Final #1: Tues 5 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm
Semi Final #2: Tues 12 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm
NSW State Final: Tues 19 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Perth: The Comedy Lounge at The Charles Hotel 509 Charles Street, North Perth
Heat #1: Thu 3 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Heat #2: Thur 10 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Heat #3: Thur 17 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Heat #4: Thur 24 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Heat #5: Thur 31 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Heat #6: Thur 7 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Heat #7: Thur 14 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Heat #8: Thur 21 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Finals: The Comedy Lounge at The Charles Hotel 509 Charles Street, North Perth
Semi Final #1: Thur 28 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Semi Final #2: Thur 7 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Wild Card: Thur 14 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7pm
WA State Final: Sat 16 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7.30pm His Majesty’s Theatre 825 Hay Street, Perth
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide: The Rhino Room 13 Frome Street, Adelaide
Heat #1: Thur 10 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #2: Thu 17 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #3: Thu 24 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #4: Wed 30 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #5: Thu 31 Jan, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #6: Wed 6 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #7: Thur 7 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm
SA State Final: Mon 25 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm The Arts Theatre 53 Angas Street, Adelaide
QUEENSLAND
Brisbane: The Sit Down Comedy Club at The Paddo Tavern 186 Given Terrace, Paddington
Heat #1: Wed 6 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #2: Wed 13 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #3: Tue 19 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #4: Wed 20 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #5: Tues 26 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #6: Wed 27 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #7: Tues 5 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7pm Heat #8: Wed 6 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Finals: The Sit Down Comedy Club at The Paddo Tavern 186 Given Terrace, Paddington
Semi Final #1: Tues 12 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7pm
Semi Final #2: Wed 13 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7pm
QLD State Final: Wed 20 Mar, 8pm. Doors 7pm
TASMANIA
Hobart:
Heat #1: Wed 6 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm Southern Lights Hotel 19 Kingston View Drive, Kingston
Heat #2: Thur 7 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm Lower House Comedy Lounge Despard Street, Hobart
TAS State Final: Sat 9 Feb, 8pm. Doors 7pm The Playhouse Theatre 106 Bathurst Street, Hobart
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Canberra:
Heat #1: Sat 9 March, 8pm. Tilley’s Devine Café Cnr Brigalow and Wattle Sts, Lynham
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Darwin:
Heat #1: Fri 15 Mar Darwin Entertainment Centre 93 Mitchell Street, Darwin
NATIONAL GRAND FINAL (MELBOURNE, VICTORIA)
5pm, 14 April 2013, Melbourne Town Hall (during the 2013 Melbourne International Comedy Festival)
