Open mic comedy comp coming soon

AUSTRALIA’S biggest stand-up comedy talent search is coming to Bendigo in early March with a small number of slots still available for those who think they have what it takes to win it all.

Known as RAW Comedy, Bendigo hosted the competition for the first time last year and judges left impressed with the local talent, so expectations are high for those brave enough to test their tight five in 2023.

Local comedian and Comedy Victoria producer Luke Morris is asking for those in Bendigo with the comedy gene to come take the stage with some slots still available.

“If you think you’ve got up to five minutes of new and original material and want to have a go and be crowned the funniest person in Bendigo, go to the RAW Comedy website and sign up,” he said.

“We limit it to about ten, we have five booked so far, but anybody can join and it’s a free sign-up process.”

The show will have a celebrity MC, which is still being kept secret for the time being, with Alex Ward, fan favourite of TV show Have You Been Paying Attention hosting last year.

Tickets are available for the public to come down and watch local comics ply their trade, and if last year was anything to go by those in attendance will be in for treat.

“Normally for only 10 contestants on stage the judging party will only put one person through,” Morris said.

“But the standard was so high last year the judges decided to send two contestants through and we’re like ‘we’ve got to come back, there is great quality here’.”

There is more at stake than just being crowned Bendigo’s funniest person however, with the winner going on to tackle other champions from around Victoria and then challenging Australia’s best if successful there.

The eventual RAW Comedy national champ will get the chance to head to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and take part in one of the world’s biggest comedy festivals.

Set for 5 March, head to the RAW Comedy website to enter, or if you are just keen for a laugh, tickets are available now at GoTix or the Capital Theatre.