Gippslanders are being told to brace their funny bones as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow gears up to roll through the region next month.
As Australia’s largest comedy institution hits the highway, it will bring a heavily curated convoy of comedy legends and fast-rising fresh faces to four major regional stages: Warragul, Sale, Traralgon and Bairnsdale.
For nearly three decades, the legendary Roadshow has served as a staple of regional touring, packaging the electric atmosphere of the city’s massive month-long festival into a single, side-splitting night of stand-up, satire, and sketch.
The Gippsland leg of the national tour is split into two blocks, offering local audiences two completely different, star-studded lineups depending on where they secure their seats.
Round One: Warragul
The tour makes its first local pitstop in West Gippsland on Thursday, July 2, at the West Gippsland Arts Centre in Warragul.
Audiences there will be treated to a powerhouse lineup hosted by the brilliantly sharp David Quirk. The Warragul stage will also feature high-energy favourite Brett Blake, alongside rising stars Henry Yan, Jo Gowda, and the critically acclaimed comedic duo of Nat Harris and Hannah Camilleri.
Round Two: Sale, Traralgon and Bairnsdale
The second wave of the regional tour sweeps across Central and East Gippsland the following week, utilising a completely different, fast-paced lineup hosted by the charismatic Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.
Joining him to deliver top-tier material will be regular festival favourite Matt Stewart, the clever and sharp Robyn Reynolds, Nathan Chin, and a return appearance from the dynamic pairing of Nat Harris and Hannah Camilleri.
The dates and venues for this second tour block include:
– Sale: Thursday, July 9 at 8pm – The Wedge Performing Arts Centre
– Traralgon: Friday, July 10 at 7.30 pm – Gippsland Performing Arts Centre (GPAC)
– Bairnsdale: Saturday, July 11 at 7.30 pm – The Forge Theatre
Due to the massive enduring popularity of the Roadshow throughout regional Victoria, theatre organisers across all four shires are advising patrons that tickets are selling rapidly.
The performances carry a strict age recommendation of 15 and above, as the shows feature adult themes, coarse language, and potential theatrical haze effects.
Locals are encouraged to round up a crew of mates and secure their spots immediately. Tickets can be booked directly through each individual venue’s box office website or by visiting the official festival hub
