Dr Brown scoops Australia's top comedy prize

In the year that a silent film triumphed at the Oscars, a mime act has won Australia’s biggest live comedy award.

Dr Brown scooped the Barry award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival today for his adult show.

The creation of Phil Burgers, a physical comic from the US but now based in London, Dr Brown also had a children’s show at the festival – which won the director's choice award in that category.

He has previously been nominated for a Malcolm Hardee Award for most original comedy nomination at the last two Edinburgh Fringes.

Brits Tim Key, Dave Gorman and Paul Foot has all been nominated, alongside Aussies Felicity Ward and Wil Anderson, who can be consoled by taking home the Bulmer’s People’s Choice award for the third year in a row.

Best newcomer, which goes to an Australian or New Zealand act, was a two-way split for only the second time ever, with honours shared by Ronny Chieng and Matt Okine, and Lessons With Luis – a three man sketch group which won the Raw comedy award for newcomers earlier in the festival – also won the Golden Gibbo for the best independent local act that puts creativity ahead of commercial concerns.

Rod Quantock, a founding father of the Melbourne comedy scene who conducts anarchic tours of the city during the festival, won the director’s choice award for adult shows, while the Piece Of Wood Award for the comics’ comic, went to another Australian comedy veteran, Bob Franklin, for his show with Tripod’s Stephen Gates.

The Barrys are named after Barry Humphries, the founding patron of the festival.

Click here to read Chortle’s review of Dr Brown’s show in Melbourne.

Published: 21 Apr 2012