Accessibility

Melbourne International Comedy Festival strives to provide access and inclusion for everyone. The Festival offers a range of accessible services and facilities across our Festival managed and independent venues in order to ensure that all comedy lovers have access to a safe and enjoyable experience.

The Festival has a dedicated Accessibility email address – access@comedyfestival.com.au – so please get in touch if you have any questions regarding accessibility at the Festival, would like to provide feedback or would like any information in another format.

To book a ticket to show with any accessible service, please see the How to Book Your Ticket section below to ensure the Festival can provide the best service.

Communication Boards 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival now provides Communication Boards for patrons who would like to use them while attending the Festival. If you would like to collect a communication board while attending the Festival, our Info Booth outside Melbourne Town Hall have Communication Boards on hand for patrons to have.  

Click here to download a Melbourne International Comedy Festival Communication Board. 

Show Information

Once the season program is live, shows in the Festival can be searched by accessible features in the advance search when browsing shows. This search feature filters performances by wheelchair accessibility, assistive listening, suitability for blind or low vision audience, suitability for deaf or hard of hearing audience, and shows with AUSLAN interpreted sessions. Shows with an AUSLAN interpreted or Relaxed Performance session are also listed below on this page. 

Detailed information regarding each filter and what to expect from performances that have accessible services is provided below.

Venue Information

For detailed venue information for all Festival Managed Venues please see FMV Venue Information. The information provided details public transport and parking options including accessible tram stops and accessible parking bays nearby to each venue, box office information, bar options, step-free and/or wheelchair accessible routes, types of seating including accessible seating, which venues offer assistive listening as well as information about bathroom facilities.

The Festival also uses a range of independent venues, such as pubs, theatres and function spaces, that manage their operations independently. The Festival strives to provide as much accessibility information about each of these spaces in the dropdown under the Venue name on each show page, but we also encourage you to check the venue’s website or contact them directly for more accessibility information.

 Step-Free and Wheelchair Accessible Venue

Shows at a venue showing this symbol have step-free access and are wheelchair accessible. On each show page, click the venue name and this is where you will find detailed information about physical access at the venue. If the wheelchair symbol is not shown, step free/wheelchair access at that venue may be partial or unavailable.

For detailed information regarding step-free and wheelchair accessible routes as well as accessible seating at each Festival Managed Venue this year, please see FMV Venue Information.

Assistive Listening

At select Festival venues Assistive Listening is provided either as a hearing loop where patrons can tune in using their own hearing aid device for amplified film sound directly into the ear or in the form of an assistive listening device that patrons can borrow and use for the duration of the session. Patrons can use the device provided by the venue complete with headphones to hear an amplified version of the film sound through the headphones.

Information about which assistive listening system is available is listed under the venue name on each show page and for detailed information for Festival Managed Venues, please see FMV Venue Information.

 AUSLAN Interpreted Performances

Shows that have an Auslan Interpreted performance are listed below – this list is constantly being added to, so please check back often! The Auslan Interpreted performance date is also listed on each show page under the Show Details section.

You can also search the program for Auslan Interpreted shows here using the filter “shows with Auslan Interpreted sessions”.

Auslan Interpreted Shows 2024

More shows to come! Please check back later for more Auslan Interpreted shows for the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

 Captioned performances

Check back later for 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival performances offering captioning for audiences. 

  Relaxed Performance

Some select shows may be running Relaxed Performances. Relaxed Performances are designed to make the performance experience accessible and are for anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment – this can include but is not limited to Neurodivergent People who experience sensory processing differences (Autistic People, ADHD People), learning disabilities, dementia as well as those living with anxiety or who have experienced trauma.

Relaxed Performances focus on adapting the performance environment and preparing patrons by developing pre-show resources. Lighting and sound may be adjusted, and the doors will remain open to allow patrons to take a break in a designated quiet area.

There are currently no Relaxed Performance.

  Guide Dogs and Assistance Animals

Guide dogs and assistance animals are welcome in all venues.

How to Book Your Ticket

To ensure that the Festival can provide you with the best customer service, if you require any accessibility service for shows sold through the Festival's Box Offices, please email access@comedyfestival.com.au or call the Festival's Box Office on (03) 9245 3788. Once you arrive at the venue, please make yourself known to Front of House staff who will be wearing bright Festival branded t-shirts.

For AUSLAN interpreted performances, you can book online by selecting the AUSLAN price type to indicate you will be using the AUSLAN interpretation during the performance/would like to be seated with a clear view of the interpreter. For more information and if you need any assistance with booking an AUSLAN ticket, please email access@comedyfestival.com.au or call the Festival's Box Office on (03) 9245 3788.

Please note via email or phone which service you require and this information can be saved against a single booking or can be saved against your customer profile for any future tickets you book through the Festival's Box Offices. You can also book a ticket requiring an accessible service on someone’s behalf; please note this when you call or email.

For venues that use a third-party ticketing system, please click on the session you wish to book and follow the link to book a ticket through their external ticketing system. Accessibility information will be available on the external ticketing website.

The following major independent venue Box Office numbers for accessible bookings are below:

• Arts Centre Melbourne – 1300 182 183
• Comedy Theatre – 1300 11 10 11 and press 2
• Forum Melbourne – 1300 11 10 11 and press 2
• The Malthouse – (03) 9685 5111
• Comedy Republic – (03) 9654 6836
• The Palais – 1300 446 925
• Athenaeum Theatre - (03) 9650 1500
• Ticketek – 1300 665 915

If you require any services that are not listed on this page or in the FMV Venue Information section or for more information, please do not hesitate to contact the Festival by email access@comedyfestival.com.au or phone (03) 9245 3788.