Sarah Keyworth takes top gong at Melbourne comedy festival awards

English comedian Sarah Keyworth has reigned supreme at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, winning the Most Outstanding Show award on Saturday.

Keyworth’s hour-long show, My Eyes Are Up Here, an examination of their gender-affirming top surgery, received a five-star review from The Age.

One of the most coveted awards in the comedy world, the Most Outstanding Show is chosen by a panel of judges who survey the 600-plus events in the festival program

“I was crying at other people’s speeches,” Keyworth said in their acceptance speech during the awards ceremony at the Toff in Town on Saturday afternoon, hosted by previous winner Rhys Nicholson.

Keyworth’s award was announced by Gillian Cosgriff, who won Most Outstanding Show in 2023.

“You can chop off your boobs but it’s harder to get rid of the period,” Keyworth said, attempting to hold back tears that eventually flowed.

“The stand-out thing about this festival is how nice you all are,” they said.

Keyworth edged out fellow nominees Celia Pacquola with her show I’m As Surprised As You Are, John Kearns’ The Varnishing Days, Julia Masli’s ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, Kanan Gill’s What Is This?, Lou Wall’s The Bisexual’s Lament, Oliver Coleman’s Goof, Ray O’Leary’s Your Laughter Is Just Making Me Stronger, Rose Matafeo’s On And On And On and Takashi Wakasugi’s Japanese Aussie.

In a full-circle festival moment Aaron Chen took home his first People’s Choice Award for selling the most tickets of any act after performing a mammoth 10 shows at the 3000-seat Palais Theatre in St Kilda.

Chen, from Sydney, who has starred in the ABC TV comedy Fisk, first took out the festival’s Class Clowns competition for high school students in 2012. In 2017 he was named Best Newcomer after performing to no more than 30 people a night in a converted poolroom at the Victoria Hotel.

His victory speech on Saturday was more like a five-minute stand-up spot: “This is so surreal,” he quipped, “performing to less than 1000 people”.

The Golden Gibbo, awarded to an independent show that pursues artistic creativity rather than fiscal gain, went to Frankston’s Dougie Baldwin for Detention.

The Best Newcomer award – previously won by Sammy J, Eddie Perfect and the late Cal Wilson – went to Melbourne comedian Noah Szto for Success in Everything, a show performed in a karaoke booth.

The Directors’ Choice award, selected by long-time festival head Susan Provan and her programming colleagues, went to festival mainstay and local comedy stalwart Ben Russell; the comics’ choice award, the (literal) Piece of Wood, was given to Claire Hooper for So Proud; and Bronwyn Kuss’ Pillows xxxx was the recipient of the Pinder Prize, which will help fund their show’s run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is on now until Sunday April 21. The Age is a festival media partner.

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