Australia's top comedy prize

Zoe Coombs Marr has won this year's Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

She triumphed over fellow nominees including Ireland's David O'Doherty and the UK's Luisa Omielan, for her show Trigger Warning – in which her blokeish male comedian alter-ego Dave became embroiled in a metaphysical debate with his creator.

Last year's Barry winner, Sam Simmonds, handed over the baton via video link tonight.

Coombs Marr also won the Golden Gibbo award for the best independent local act..

Tom Ballard, who had also been nominated jointly for both of his politically inspired festival shows, won the Pinder Prize. Given in honour of festival co-founder John Pinder, the prize comprises the financial help needed to put on a show at Assembly at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.

Other nominees for the Barry, the most prestigious live comedy award in Australia, were Damian Power, Anne Edmonds and Rhys Nicholson.

Tom Walker was named best newcomer for his clowning show Beep Boop, ahead of fellow nominees Demi Lardner, Rose Matafeo and Guy Montgomery. This award is open only to Australian and New Zealand acts.

The Piece Of Wood award, handed down from comedian to comedian, was given to Australian comedy stalwart Chris Wainhouse. Edmonds won the award last year.

Other accolades handed out tonight include the Directors' Choice award, in the gift of festival director Susan Provan, which was jointly won by weird late-night show Zanzoop and True Australian Patriots, the spoof right-wing group which features Power and Edmonds along with Greg Larsen.

And the people's choice award for the bestselling comedian went to Carl Barron.

Click here for all our reviews from Melbourne.

Published: 16 Apr 2016