Deadly Funny

Cheeky and loud, black and proud, Deadly Funny is Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s national comedy competition unearthing the freshest and funniest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent from across the country.

Expressions of interest for Deadly Funny are now open! Click here for more info on registering for a workshop/to compete.

INFORMATION   |   EVENT CALENDAR   |   REGISTER TO COMPETE   

2018 finalists: DION WILLIAMS (VIC), DORA SMITH (WA), ELAINE CROMBIE (VIC), JUNE MILLS (NT), KIMBERLY LOVEGROVE (VIC), KYLENE ANDERSON (NSW), KY AMBRUM (QLD), LEON FILEWOOD (QLD), MAGGIE WALSH (QLD), MICHAEL NAAWI (VIC), RICHIE FEJO (NT) and WILLIAM MAKIN (ACT) with host GHENOA GELA (2017 Deadly Funny Winner) and special guest artist JALEN SUTCLIFFE (2016 Deadly Funny Winner).

Expression of interest for Deadly Funny are now open. Click here to register your interest and make sure you follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with news and announcements. Workshop / heat dates are yet to be announced, so please indicate which city is your preference and we will be in touch shortly to confirm date, time and venue.

Cheeky and loud, black and proud, Deadly Funny is Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s national comedy competition unearthing the freshest and funniest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent from across the country. Local heats for the 2019 competition kick off in late 2018, and will also feature a star-studded comedy line-up of Australia’s best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander comedians.

Heading into its 14th year, Deadly Funny is a significant and vibrant part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This one-of-a-kind comedy event is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 and over.

To participate, all you have to do is have up to 5 minutes of funny material. It’s basically storytelling with a punchline! Entrants will take part in a private workshop with a professional comedian, followed by a public live performance. Special guest judges will decide who travels to Melbourne for the National Grand Final, where $2,000 is up for grabs!

Rules:

• Open to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders aged 18 and over (if you are under 18 go to classclowns.com.au)
• Acts should be 3-5 minutes max!
• Acts can be 1-3 people
• Routines must be original
• Acts can be stand up, musical, sketch, physical/dance or character based

DEADLY FUNNY COMPETITION CALENDAR - 2018/2019       CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Location

Date

Times

Venue

Tickets

Adelaide, SA	Saturday 17 November 2018	3-5pm Workshop 6pm show	Rhino Room 1/131 Pirie Street Adelaide	Past event.
Fremantle, WA	Wednesday 21 November 2018	4-6pm Workshop 7pm show	Fremantle Arts Centre 1 Finnerty Street Fremantle	Past event.
Taree, NSW	Thursday 29 November 2018	4-6pm Workshop 7pm show	Taree High School Hall 8-11 Albert St	Past event.
Darwin, NT	Wednesday 20 February 2019	4.30-6.30pm Workshop 7pm show	Happy Yess 12 Smith St, Darwin	Tickets here.
Katherine, NT	Friday 22 February 2019	4-6pm Workshop 7pm show	Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre, LOT 3238 Stuart Hwy, Katherine East NT	Tickets here
Port Augusta, SA	Friday 1 March 2019	4-6pm Workshop 7pm show	52 Commercial Rd, Port Augusta SA	Tickets here
Brisbane, QLD	Monday 4 March 2019	4-6pm Workshop 7pm show	Citipointe Church West, 26 Rosemary Street, Durack QLD	Tickets here.
Sydney, NSW	Wednesday 6 March	4-6pm Workshop 7pm show	Redfern Community Centre (29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern)	Tickets here.
Canberra, ACT	Friday 22 March	4-6pm Workshop 7pm show	Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street, Greenway	Tickets here.
Melbourne, VIC	Saturday 23 March	4-6pm Workshop 7pm show	Northcote Town Hall Main (189 High Street, Northcote)	Tickets here.

The 2018 Deadly Funny National Final & Showcase was hosted by Ghenoa Gela (2017 winner), with special performances by Tyler Saunders and Jalen Sutcliffe (2016 winner). Congratulations to the 2018 Deadly Funny winner Leon Filewood from Queensland! 

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Watch the 2018 Deadly Funny National Final & Showcase on SBS On Demand.

Interested in our comedy workshop program for Indigenous young people aged 12 to 18? Click here for more info on Deadly Funny Kids.