Important information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and upcoming RAW Comedy and Class Clowns events

Published Saturday 14 March 2020 (updated Wednesday 18 March 2020)

RAW Comedy events will proceed across the country, including; the NSW State Final on Tuesday 17 March; QLD State Final on Sunday 22 March; TAS State Final on Wednesday 18 March; and Howler Preliminary Final on Sunday 15 March. The ACT State Final on Monday 16 March, the QLD State Final on Sunday 22 March and VIC State Final on Monday 23 March will not go ahead and will be recheduled until a date later in 2020.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is currently working with co-presenters across the country in regards to the presentation of upcoming Class Clowns events. The Arts Centre Melbourne event on Saturday 14 March and QLD State Final on Sunday 15 March at Brisbane Powerhouse are proceeding. The NSW State Final on Tuesday 17 March at Riverside Parramatta, ACT event on Wednesday 18 March at Canberra Theatre Centre; and VIC State Final on Sunday 22 March at ABC Radio Melbourne's Iwaki Auditorium have been postponed indefinitely. 

It is anticipated that the 2020 RAW Comedy and Class Clowns National Grand Finals will be held later in the year.

You will no doubt have seen our announcement that regretfully the 2020 Melbourne International Comedy Festival is not going ahead. We took this action to support the community’s efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). With many hundreds of thousands of audience members about to descend on the city this was a difficult but necessary decision.

Currently, Australia does not have widespread community transmission of COVID-19 and the Australian Government advises that, effective from Monday 16 March, organised, non-essential gatherings should be limited to 500 people.

The future RAW Comedy and Class Clowns events noted above are limited to under 500 attendees. We encourage all participants and audiences to practice good hygiene habits.

As per current health advice regarding COVID-19, the following people are advised not to attend and instead self-isolate and seek medical advice:

• Anyone who has a fever or acute respiratory infection and has been in mainland China, Iran, South Korea or Italy or transited through on or after 1 February 2020 until 14 days after they were last in a listed country.
• Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case in the past 14 days prior to onset of illness.

If you are uncertain about attending or participating in RAW Comedy or Class Clowns this year please don’t feel that you have to. The competitions will be back in 2021.

Our first priority is the care and safety of our community.

For all RAW Comedy event details and to purchase tickets click here.

For all Class Clowns event details and to purchase tickets click here.