New site in time for Adelaide Fringe

Chortle is expanding into Australia and New Zealand, with a new site launching today.

Although we have covered the last six Melbourne International Comedy Festivals, this is the first time Chortle will have a dedicated year-round presence down under.

The new site – at au.chortle.com – is being launched in time for the Adelaide Fringe, which starts on Friday. We will have reviewers there and right though the Australian festival season as we establish a permanent presence.

As part of the move, Chortle will also be taking over The Groggy Squirrel, an independent Melbourne-based website set up by Annette Slattery in 2005. Most of the writers from that site, also known as the Australian Comedy Review, will now be contributing to Chortle.

Slattery said: ‘I couldn't think of anyone I would trust more to take over the Squirrel than Chortle.’

Chortle editor Steve Bennett said: ‘Australia has a lively and creative comedy scene, and our aim is to cover it with the same depth that our UK site has come to achieve over the past 11 years. I also feel Britain ought to export something positive to the Australian comedy scene to make up for Ben Elton...’

The site will initially concentrate on news and reviews, as the bank of comedians’ profiles and nationwide listings grows. There is also a Twitter feed @chortleAU

Published: 15 Feb 2011