The shortlist for the Barry Award also includes the less famouse acts Henning Wehn and Otto Kuhnle's 1000 Years Of German Humour, spoof Country and Western singer Wilson Dixon (aka Australian character comedian Jesse Griffin), physical American double-act Pajama Men and Melbourne stand-up Asher Treleaven.

Nominees have also been announced for the $2,000 (£973) Golden Gibbo award, named after the late Lynda Gibson and awarded to a local, independent show that 'pursues the artist's idea more strongly than any commercial lure'. Up for this award are Randy's Postcards From Purgatory, Wes Snelling, The List Operators, Rob Hunter, Vigilantilope and Tom Ballard.

All winners will be announced at about midnight local time next Saturday night.

Last year the Barry – named after Dame Edna Everage's Melbourne-born creator Barry Humphries – was shared for the first time, between Nina Conti and Kristen Schaal. Previous winners have included Daniel Kitson, Ross Noble, The Boosh and Demetri Martin.