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2008 Roadshow Success!

MELBOURNE'S COMEDY FESTIVAL ROLLS INTO SINGAPORE

Arts Minister Lynne Kosky today announced that following a highly successful regional and national tour the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow was on its way to Singapore.

"The Melbourne International Comedy International Festival is one of the world's great comedy festivals and the Festival's Roadshow takes great Australian comedy to regional cities, country towns and now Singapore, making comedy one of the most accessible artforms," Ms Kosky said.

In 2008, the Roadshow played to 101 venues across Australia from Pakenham to Port Hedland to over 48,400 with regional audiences growing by 18 per cent.

This increase was achieved by adding new venues resulting in an overall sales increase. New venues for Victoria in 2008 included Ballarat, Werribee, Healesville and Robinvale.

In South Australia new venues included Roxby Downs and the Institute Theatre.

"The Melbourne International Comedy Festival continues to deliver to a program across regional Victoria and Australia that is of the highest quality," Ms Kosky said.

"It is great to see so many people getting out and enjoying a little piece of this great Festival right there in their own backyard."

This year some of Australia's favourite comedians packed up their microphone and toured all over Victoria and Australia including Damian Callinan, Corrine Grant, Claire Hooper, Jeff Green and Josh Thomas.

The festival's director, Susan Provan said the comedic extravaganza had been on the road for over a decade.

"It just gets more popular, we keep adding venues and we keep going further out to remote corners of the country. It is fantastic to take comedy to these communities," Ms Provan said.

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