Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2025

The good, the weird and the unmissable from this festival’s final week

From absurdist scribbling in a notebook to a show that digs into the dark recesses of the internet, and ChatGPT acting as matchmaker, here are our latest reviews.

• Cher Tan, Donna Demaio, Hannah Francis, John Bailey, Lefa Singleton Norton, Sonia Nair, Tyson Wray, Vyshnavee Wijekumar and Nell Geraets

Ghosts, lies, and conspiracy theories: This festival has it all

From a show where musicals meet PowerPoint, to a trip back in time, here are our latest reviews.

• Cher Tan, Donna Demaio, Elizabeth Flux, Guy Webster, Hannah Francis, John Bailey, Lefa Singleton Norton, Nell Geraets, Sonia Nair, Tyson Wray and Vyshnavee Wijekumar

The best, the strangest, and the most daring of the comedy festival so far

From an Aunty Donna star to a performer who taps into Joan of Arc, here are our latest reviews of the comedy festival.

• Cher Tan, Donna Demaio, Guy Webster, Hannah Francis, John Bailey, Karl Quinn, Lefa Singleton Norton, Mikey Cahill, Sonia Nair, Tyson Wray and Vyshnavee Wijekumar

The letter Q is lonely and purple is sassy: What can we learn from fonts and colours?

Former Saturday Night Live writer and cult comedy favourite Julio Torres has brought his newest experimental work to Australia.

• Will Cox

If you know a Greg or are a Greg then this show is for you

Greg is an hour of absurdist sketch, improv and character comedy, taking as its starting point a pair of comedians’ fascination for a completely ordinary name.

• Will Cox

It’s the comedy show Raygun didn’t want you to see. But is it any good?

Stephanie Broadbridge’s Breaking: The Musical had to overcome some legal challenges to make it to the Comedy Festival, where it’s just started its run. This is what the crowd can expect.

• Karl Quinn

Guy Montgomery is everywhere, but he thinks he’s ‘pretty generic’

The New Zealander has written for others, appeared in films, done fundraisers, but he describes these ventures as “dream-adjacent.”

• John Bailey

Not sure what to see at the MICF? Here’s how to make it a two-course comedy feast

If you enjoy these superstar comedians, pair them with these hilarious up-and-comers without breaking the bank.

• Lefa Singleton Norton

You don’t want to think of your doctor as human: Adam Kay

The former doctor turned author (turned humorist) says he “probably” has PTSD after the traumatic event at work that caused him to change professions.

• John Bailey

How famously conflict-averse Luke McGregor handles curly questions

The everyman comedian has made a career of awkwardness – but then our lunch got a bit awkward.

• Cassidy Knowlton

Can this elite clown save literature with some full-frontal nudity?

Damien Warren-Smith is bringing his comedy creation – Garry Starr – back to Melbourne for an hour of rapid-fire gags, puns and physical lunacy.

• Tyson Wray

The comedy show aiming to prove that laughter really is medicine

There will be ice water and dad jokes – what’s the worst that could happen?

• Nell Geraets

Looking for the perfect night out? There’s an AI for that – no joke

The “Funny Finder” released for this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival matches fans to their perfect show – with a little help from artificial intelligence.

• Gemma Grant

Should we be worried? Comedians tackle 2025’s most burning question

This year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival can’t come soon enough in worrying times.

We need to celebrate the complexities of humanity: Rhys Darby

While the New Zealand comedian worries about AI, his advice is to turn off the news and keep your sense of humour.

• Lenny Ann Low