Comedy Festival back from hiatus

THE much-loved Bendigo Comedy Festival will return in just a few short months after a forced two-year interlude, with a close-knit community of crack local comedians and producers behind the wheel.

The uniquely Bendigo-style jamboree of jokes will be held over five days in October across the Capital Theatre Engine Room in View Street, the Discovery Science & Technology Centre, and the Cambrian Hotel in North Bendigo, which has hosted the cult-favourite Cambrian Comedy Lab open mic night since 2018.

Festival committee member and local funny man Ash Greblo said despite the recent unfortunate pause in proceedings, he and his fellow organisers “never really stopped working” to prepare for the forthcoming edition.

“We put all the energy and enthusiasm from the cancelled festivals into planning and working on this one so it can be bigger, better and funnier than ever before,” he said.

“If you’ve ever been to a Bendigo Comedy Festival you know you can expect to laugh a lot.

“It’s a diverse line-up with big name headliners, the return of Women Of Wit, a Pride show, a hilarious show for all ages and a workshop for teenagers looking to get into performing comedy.

“We will also see the return of the Bendigo Comedy Festival Gala and of course a mix of Bendigo’s funniest local comics.

“Given the fact that we have been off for two years, there hasn’t been as many live gigs and how good this lineup is, I think these shows are probably going to sell out and be pretty packed.”

Greblo said apart from just the fact that “we’re back”, the most exciting part of this year’s festival for himself is the new Pride show.

“The line up for that is insane, with not only award winners on the bill but one of the hottest acts on the internet right now,” he said.

“There is actually a clue scattered in there somewhere, but I can’t say anything else!”

The Bendigo Comedy Festival 2022 will be staged between 12 and 16 October, with the full schedule to be unveiled closer to the dates.

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