The 20th Melbourne International Comedy Festival is over for another year and what a year it was!

A record breaking 415,000 people attended this years festival; seeing more than 200 different shows including stand-up, theatre, cabaret and film.

Around 260,000 people visited our website and 1.7 million watched The Gala nationally on Network Ten. After the Festival, the Roadshow took 41 Australian and Overseas Guest comedians to 66 regional centres across Australia, including Darwin, Port Headland, Cairns, Mt Isa, Hobart and Horsham.

The 2006 Barry Award for most outstanding show went to Demetri Martin for his show Dr Earnest Parrot presents Demetri Martin. The winner gets fame, glory, a snazzy trophy and an all important cheque!

Melbourne Airport Best Newcomer Award

The Comedy Festival’s Melbourne Airport Best Newcomer Award, is presented to the best fi rst-time performer at each Festival. This year, Melbourne young-gun Sammy J won for his musical guide to Australia, Sammy J’s 55-minute National Tour.

The Age Critics’ Award

The reviewers gong for the best local act. Judith Lucy’s I Failed! won The Age Critics Award for best Australian show with Men of Steel receiving a commendation.

The Director’s Choice

Awarded by the Comedy Festival Director and visiting directors to a fabulous show that somehow missed out on any other prize. The 2006 gong went to Men of Steel and Nick Sun’s Blood on the Yolks in the Key of Owls.

The Golden Gibbo

In memory of the late, great Lynda Gibson, the Golden Gibbo is awarded to a local, independent show that bucks trends and pursues the artist’s idea more strongly than it pursues any commercial lure. In 2006, the Golden Gibbo went to Greg Bird for Cliffy is Relaxed and Comfortable.

The Piece of Wood Award

A beloved (and much bitten) piece of wood awarded from comics to comics for doing good stuff ‘n’ that. In 2006, the Piece of Wood was shared by Damian Callinan and Fiona O’Loughlin.