Showcases and galas to see at Sydney Comedy Festival

The longest-running comedy show in Australia is back for another All-Stars Comedy Festival Gala. This wild show features an A-Team of impro stars entertaining audiences the only way they know how – with quick wits, comic genius, and no safety net in sight. There’ll be classic, audience-favourite games, comedy scenes, stories, epic adventures, songs, and improvised musicals with a twist – all packed into a quick-fire comedy extravaganza that audiences have come to know and love. It'll be packing out the Enmore Theatre on Sunday, May 21 and you can snap up tickets from $37 over here.

At this annual fundraising gala, Australia's femmes fatale of funny get together on one bill to support women's rights. Hosted by the legendary Claire Hooper, this comedy extravaganza promises to have you shaking with laughter, and all for a good cause! All proceeds from ticket sales will support ActionAid’s work championing women’s rights in over 45 countries across the world. It's all going down at the Factory Theatre on Wednesday, May 10 and you can frock up $45 for a ticket over here.

One of Australia’s most recognised TV presenters (and secret news nerd) Osher Günsberg (as seen on The Bachelors and The Masked Singer) now has his very own razor-sharp live satirical news show. Osher is joined on stage by a stunning cast of Australia’s best improvisers, including the occasional special guest reporter brave enough to moonlight on their actual network TV contracts. Whilst the stories are real, the news is made up. Given the 24-hour news cycle means that no two shows are ever the same, one thing will always stay true: sometimes, laughing while the world burns is an appropriate response. Catch this wild show at Manning Bar between May 3-7. Tickets are $32-$35 over here.

Following a sold-out show and encore performance at last year’s Sydney Comedy Festival, the STEAM Room is back with a fresh team of scientists training to turn their research into stand-up, and brave the comedy stage for the first time. National treasure Doctor Karl is back as the headlining act, with support from astrophysicist TikToker Kirsten Banks. Psychedelics, nuclear meltdowns, and forensic mishaps – nothing is off limits. This experiment is taking over the Enmore Theatre on Thursday, May 4 and you can snap up tickets for $39.90-$54.90 over here.

Sick of the same old comedians telling the same old dick jokes? Then this could be the show for you! Award-winning comedian Madeleine Stewart is bringing back Sydney's most inclusive comedy show for the fest, Crips & Creeps (May 13 and 14). A "sexy accessible show", this event celebrates comedians who are marginalised due to sexuality, race, gender or disability. Tickets are just $25 and these shows kick off nice and early, with the Saturday show at 5pm and the Sunday show at 4pm. Both shows are Wheelchair accessible and Auslan Interpreted. 

Crowd favourite Michael Shafar hosts an outstanding line-up of some of the most exciting Jewish comedians in Australia. Featuring Ben Kochan, Robyn Reynolds (UK), Jess Fuchs, Thalia-Joan and headliner Alice Fraser. Fraser delights international audiences with her intelligence and sharp wit. Her sold out solo shows have been commissioned as podcasts and TV specials on Amazon Prime, NextUp and the ABC. Catch all of these comedy superstars at the Comedy Store on Wednesday, May 30. Grab tickets for $35-$40 over here.

The Sydney Comedy Festival has handpicked the funniest, freshest, and most fantastic acts of the fest, squeezed them into one hilarious line-up, and is delivering them to venues across all corners of Sydney during the festival and beyond. This top-secret line-up is popping up at Bondi Pavilion, Sydney Uni's Manning Bar, the gorgeous Randwick Ritz and Hayden Orpheum cinemas, and the Comedy Store. There's various dates and ticket prices, scope it out over here.