Guffaw your way into the season

ABSURD anecdotes and belly laughs are on the program as the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute prepares to host three of Australia’s sharpest comedic minds in the upcoming Christmas Comedy Gala.

Set for next Saturday evening, 13 December, the night of stand-up will feature Brett Blake, Kirsty Webeck and Simon Taylor all doing their bit to help Ballarat guffaw its way into the festive season.

“Brett Blake brings his trademark mullet-powered chaos and high-octane storytelling that’ll have you laughing so hard you’ll spill your eggnog,” promotor Aaron Laign warned ahead of the show.

“Kirsty Webeck, the reigning champion of cheerful comedy, delivers joyful punchlines and feel-good hilarity that’ll warm your heart faster than a Christmas pud in July.

“Simon Taylor, the smooth operator with razor-sharp wit, rounds out the trio with clever charm and tales that’ll make even the Grinch crack a smile.”

Whether you’ve seen her on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, The Project or most recently on ABC television’s Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, Webeck is fast becoming known as one of the funniest and friendliest comedians around.

Webeck has previously been quoted as stating that her favourite comedians are “whoever the other acts are on the show I’m doing that night.”

“I love watching comedians at work, even if their material isn’t really my cup of tea,” Webeck said.

“I love seeing how they approach it, what skills they have, how they get their ideas across to a roomful of strangers. It’s one of the biggest perks of the job, getting to watch other acts whenever you do a lineup show.”

Taylor is a Melbourne-born comedian, who by the age of 24 became a writer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Since then he’s appeared on Just for Laughs and was the first ever Australian to perform stand-up on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. He’s toured the globe, including Australia, the UK, Southeast Asia and the United States.

Meanwhile, Blake got his majestic mullet cut by an Arab barber, and apparently will now only go to Arab barbers. He rates seeing a rooster attack a weather man live on day-time TV as one of the funniest things he has ever seen.

Tickets and details are through the BMI website.