Pilot

Australia's finest up-and-coming young comedians bring their creative visions to the stage and debut their solo shows.

Pilot is back and better than ever, with six exciting young comics headlining shows at Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the very first time! Come and see the heavy hitters of tomorrow’s comedy scene and say you saw them before they were big.

'The future of comedy is in safe hands.' Radio Monash

Pilot showcases two young comedians each week of the Festival. See below for dates and details!
 

27–29 March: Doc Dowden & Sabrina Bonollo
Doc Dowden is a transgender linguist from rural WA with autism and a love for learning. In other words, she’s impossible to market – and that’s a big problem for her producer. Join her as she explores the science of accents, the quirks of country life and the joys of gender.

Sabrina Bonollo (two-time Class Clowns National Finalist) refuses to tell us what her show Wilt is about, she says she’s “gatekeeping” it and will only let those with precious tickets through the gate. She’s also thoroughly enjoying writing ominously in the third person. “Oh what’s that?” She asks herself, oh yeah she forgot to tell you that something is wilting… right now it’s her houseplant and self-esteem but other things are lurking (including masses of laughter) so be there or be so square.

3–5 April: Anka Strauss Kosanović & Jollee Hacadurian-Sacco
Ever been asked if you’re Catholic when you’re not? Anka Strauss Kosanović has, and she knows why. After spending hours ruminating over ‘accidentally’ cheating on tests, failing to casually date and being shamefully monolingual, she considers herself an expert at finding ways to feel guilty over nothing. She now faces a new problem: where is her salvation in the absence of religion? She doesn’t know, but she’ll use humour to feel better in the meantime.

Jollee is throwing a slumber party and you’re all invited! At seven years old, Jollee invited their entire street to a slumber party and not a single person came. Now, they’re forcing everyone to be there. Come with them as they do face masks, cry about Laika the Soviet space dog and rehash old One Direction rumours they still haven’t gotten over!

10–​​​​​​​12 April: Sammy Omran & Yarno Rohling
Sammy Omran in his adult comedy debut Camel Cowboy brings to life his struggles with identity, the realities of relationships in the 21st century and, as he describes, life as an over-privileged immigrant child. Camel Cowboy is Sammy’s return to comedy and he intends to discuss everything that his career as a child comedian did not permit.

Up for an adventure? Arizona Myers may not be the biggest name in archeology, but he's above average! Embark on an audience-driven slapstick expedition, helping Myers track down the long-lost Hand of Druon: cracking clues, battling Belgians and tackling obstacles he is wildly underqualified to overcome.