Witty women from wall to wall

A laugh-a-minute is on the cards next Thursday night when the Engine Room hosts the 2026 incarnation of Women of Wit, a groundbreaking stand-up comedy show that features an all-female lineup.

The achingly amusing roster for this year includes Mel McGlensey (winner best comedy award 2024 Adelaide Fringe), Laura Davis (two-time winner of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Golden Gibbo) and Janty Blair (winner, 2022 Deadly Funny grand final).

Locals Bess Patterson, Julieta Mateo, Patti Fawcett, Cath Styles and Simone Amohanga will also make appearances.

Amohanga, who has been a mainstay of Women of Wit since its first iteration back in 2018, said the concept was initially to provide an opportunity to get more regional women into comedy and give them a platform to perform.

“So often regional gigs are almost entirely male, if not entirely male,” she said.

“So, Women of Wit would have a headlining performer, but then we would also have five-minute slots so that if you wanted to give it a go, we could get you up there on stage.”

She said almost a decade down the track there are two things she remains “really pleased about”.

“One, it’s now a touring gig – it started in Bendigo and it now tours around regional Victoria,” Amohanga said.

“Secondly, I think it has sold out every year.

“People really anticipate it now, it’s always kind of mid-year and I’ll get people asking me in January when it’s on.”

Amohanga said it’s probably, in fact, her favourite gig to do.

“A lot of the female Melbourne comedians, I know it’s been their favorite as well,” she said.

“People like Geraldine Hickey (most outstanding show, 2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival), they absolutely love it.”

Women of Wit 2026 takes place next Thursday 16 July from 7.30pm at the Engine Room in View Street.

Tickets can be found at boxoffice.gotix.com.au

Catch Amohanga performing her new solo show during October’s Bendigo Comedy Festival.