Brewery gets the last laugh before lockdown

TIME was on the side of a local comedy night hosted in Torquay last Thursday, as Victoria’s latest lockdown almost prevented a fun evening filled with laughter.

The Bells Beach Brewing company hosted a line-up of comedians at their venue last week, just hours before the state lost all of its social privileges.

Headlined by local presenter, radio personality and comedian of more than 30 years, Dave O’Neil, the brewery maxed out its capacity on Thursday at 100 patrons, bearing in mind its limited capacity due to restrictions.

Owner of small local comedy booking agency What’s The Joke Comedy, John Watts, was rapt with the turnout considering it was the first comedy night that Bells Beach Brewing had held and he was thankful that the two businesses could partner with one another.

“The brewery said that people were coming through on the day looking for tickets and it ended up being one of the hottest tickets in town,” Mr Watts said.

“I don’t know whether it was just a coincidence that people thought it might be another week before they would get to go out again, but people were asking for tickets all week after it was sold out.”

Comedians Evan Hocking helped MC on the night and Alex Keen provided a terrific supporting act to help get everybody warmed up, and by all accounts more nights like last Thursday’s can be expected in the near future according to Mr Watts.

“It was great, it was really unreal, people were really engaged with the comedians,” he said.

“The brewery and The Gypsy’s Lunchbox, who provided food on the night, would have had a good night closing up, otherwise they would have had no income over the weekend.”

The next event coming up for Mr Watts’ company is at the Otway Estate Bar and Cafe in Colac on August 6, which will feature comedian Dave Thornton.

For more information on booking details head to @whatsthejokecomedy on Instagram or
Facebook.