Fresh voices seek RAW laugher

AS a child, Crystal-Rae Wright would dress up her brothers at home and perform plays to their parents.

But that stage was very different to the one she’s set to command on Friday, 28 February.

A contestant in the Ballarat heat of Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s national open mic competition, RAW Comedy, Ms Wright and a bill of 14 others, will deliver short stand-up sets to crowds at The George Hotel.

She’s been regularly dabbling in open mic comedy for the last two years.

“Some of the venues offer free drinks and it’s a good opportunity for me to get away from the children,” she joked.

“I was looking for a night out of the house… But I do genuinely enjoy making people laugh.”

With Melbourne comic, Josh Earl from Spicks and Specks, and podcast Don’t You Know Who I am? hosting the evening, Ms Wright is excited to meet and watch like-minded performers.

“It’s going to be wet-your-pants nerve-wracking. I’m looking forward to seeing other local comedians get up and have a go,” she said.

“A lot of us are friends and have done comedy together before, so I’ll be happy for whoever gets through to the next round.

“It’s great that the comedy scene is expanding in Ballarat so much that we can have a RAW heat now, and I can’t wait to see the local talent that emerges.”

Luke Tonkin, Kel O’Connor, Tait Middleton, Damian Anderson, Joe Eastcott, Leasa Kaitoa, Jackson Tait, Ronald Smith, Hannah De Buhr, Mike Stevens, Gayle Simpson, Scott Benson, Kirsty Jarvis and Haydan Barker are also on the bill.

The heat begins at 8pm in The Lounge, the home of BallaratCatComedy, where competitors will be judged by young up-and-coming comic, Ethan Cavanagh, Power FM’s Jules Zass and a MICF official. Visit bosstix.com.au/registration/?ee=119 for tickets.

The night’s funniest comics could progress to the Victorian state final at Howler Melbourne on Monday 23 March, and the national grand final at the Melbourne Town Hall on Sunday, 5 April.

Some of RAW Comedy’s most successful alumni include Hannah Gadsby, Ronny Chieng who’s currently a regular on the The Daily Show and Celia Pacquola, Have You Been Paying Attention? panellist and star of Rosehaven.