Sydney Comedy Festival Sets 2016 Dates

The 12th annual Sydney Comedy Festival will bring more shows, more laughs and even more absurd hilarity than ever before, when its colossal 2016 program rolls out from April 18 to May 15 across the city and beyond.

With support from the City of Sydney, the Sydney Town Hall joins the Festival with a line-up of epic proportions. Leading the throng is headliner Ross Noble (UK) with his new show Brain Dump, ABC TV's Good Game Live where the hosts and special guests test their gaming cred and improv skills, and Giant Dwarf's special fundraiser edition of Story Club, raising funds for Marrickville Legal Centre to help those in need.

Throwing more laughs into the mix is Lawrence Leung with a show exploring mind games and impossible coincidences, Korean clowning and beatbox ensemble Ongals, and Catherine Deveny's show Pushy Women, featuring a bicycle ride around the city before a riotous show filled with stories from some of Australia's most fabulous and fiercely funny women.

Sydney Town Hall will also host the Festival's biggest ever children's program, Comedy For Kids!, delighting young audiences with interactive fun and silliness during the school holidays at the Jungle. By night, the Jungle loses its PG rating and becomes the Late Night Club hosted by Rhys Nicholson and featuring performers such as Marney McQueen, Andy Dexterity, Craig Hill and Brett Bower alongside an array of musical acts, cabaret, illusions and wildly funny sketch comedy.

Taking place at Marrickville's The Factory will be Australia's Funniest Shorts, a film festival that provides emerging comedy filmmakers with a platform for the production and presentation of short form comedy. While Redfern's Giant Dwarf will host Bonus Stage, a live talk show just for gamers including special guests from the world of comedy, television and most importantly, video games.

Providing the ultimate sneak peak at some of the Festival's most hilarious international and local stars this year will be the Best of the Fest Showcase. Taking place across four nights each week at The Factory, the Showcase is a must-see with tickets from just $15.

Returning to the Festival at the Enmore will be crowd favourite, Frocking Hilarious, an un-missable show featuring hilarious female comedians supporting ActionAid Australia's work to empower women living in poverty to stand up for their human rights.

An abundance of late night fun will also be on offer at the Enmore with the Festival Club Comedy Up Late! delivering a surprise line-up of Festival favourites to entertain insomniacs, comedy die-hards and anyone not ready to call it a night.

Once again this year's Festival will feature a smorgasbord of international comedic talent including Al Dene Bene (USA), Brian Posehn (USA), Tony Woods (USA), Dom Irrera (USA), David O'Doherty (IRE), Tanyalee Davis (CAN), Joel Dommett (UK), Jeff Green (UK), Luisa Omielan (UK), Craig Hill (UK), Sarah Gallaghan (UK) and Paul Foot (UK).

Local stars not to be missed include Em Rusicano, Nazeem Hussain, Rhys Nicholson, Matt Okine, Sam Campbell, Alice Fraser, Sammy J & Randy, Susie Yousef, Tripod, Tom Ballard, The Bear Pack, Tommy Little, Peter Helliar, Kitty Flanagan, Justin Hamilton, Nath Valvo, Michael Hing, The Axis of Awesome and many more.

What: The 12th Annual Sydney Comedy Festival

When: 18 April until 15 May 2016

Where: Festival venues include: Enmore Theatre, The Factory Theatre, The Concourse, Riverside Theatres, The Comedy Store, Giant Dwarf, Sydney Town Hall, Sydney Opera House and the Hayden Orpheum.

Web: www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au

Tickets: Tickets can be purchased via the website or the Box Office: 02 9020 6966.

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