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.

INFORMATION   |   EVENT CALENDAR   |   REGISTER TO COMPETE   

2019 Deadly Funny National Final Front row: Kylan Ambrum, Cy Fahey, Fabian Woods, Tyler Saunders (guest artist), Luca Saunders (guest artist), Leon Filewood (guest artist), Kevin Kropinyeri (judge), Allara Briggs-Pattison (Dhungala Baarka, guest artist). Back row: Dave Human, Micah Kickett, Maryanne Johns, Trent Wilson, Steph Tisdell, Ian Bennell, Kasey Johnson, Yvette Holt, Sam Simmons (judge), Maggie Walsh, Celia Pacquola (judge), Jay Wymarra, Nancy Bates (Dhungala Baarka, guest artist), Caroline Martin (judge)

Registrations and expressions of interest for the 2020 program are now open!

Fill out the form here to sign up and register your interest to participate in Deadly Funny 2020. More heats will be announced in the up coming months, so check back soon for more or follow us on Facebook to stay up to date!

Entering its 14th year, Deadly Funny has seen the likes of Steph Tisdell, Kevin Kropinyeri, Andy Saunders, Shiralee Hood and Sean Choolburra join the program as both participants and mentors.

With workshops/heats kicking off in December 2019, this national comedy competition is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over the age of 18. Now’s the time for you to get behind the mic and work with some of the country’s best First Nations comedians.

To participate, all you need is 5 minutes of funny material. It’s basically storytelling with a punchline. Sign up, come along, run through your material with a professional comedian in a two-hour workshop, and then you’ll get to jump on stage as part of a public performance – it’s that easy!  

Need more reasons to enter? State winners perform at the 2020 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and compete for the Deadly Funny crown and a $2,000 cash prize!

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 - 2019/2020

Event

Date

Times

Venue

Tickets

Brisbane, QLD	Wednesday 20 November 2019	4-6pm Workshop 7pm Show	Citipointe Church West 26 Rosemary Street, Inala	Past Event.
Fremantle, WA	Wednesday 4 December	4-6pm Workshop 7pm Show	Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty Street Fremantle	Past Event.
Melbourne, VIC	Saturday 8 February 2020	4-6pm Workshop 7pm Show	Northcote Town Hall,  189 High Street, Northcote	Past Event.
Sydney, NSW	Friday, 14 February	4-6pm Workshop 7pm Show	The Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204	Past Event.
Canberra, ACT	Saturday 15 February	4-6pm Workshop 7pm Show	Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed St N, Greenway	Past Event.
Adelaide, SA	Friday 21 February	4-6pm Workshop 8.30pm Show	Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, 253 Grenfell St. Adelaide	Book tickets
Port Augusta, SA	Sunday 23 February	3-5pm Workshop 6pm Show	Institute Theatre, 52 Commercial Rd, Port Augusta	Book tickets
Darwin, NT	Monday 24 February	4-6pm Workshop 7pm Show	Brownsmart, 12 Smith Street, Darwin	Book Tickets
National Grand Final	Saturday 4 April	4pm	Forum Melbourne, 154 Flinders St, Melbourne	Book Tickets

 

Congratulations to the 2019 Deadly Funny winner Fabian Woods from Western Australia! 

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The 2019 Deadly Funny National Final & Showcase was air NITV on Tuesday 3 December 2019, watch now on SBS On Demand here!

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