Four Brits nominated for top Melbourne comedy award

Female comics dominate festival shortlist

British comedians Jordan Gray, Leo Reich, Liz Kingsman and Rosie Jones have been nominated for the biggest prize at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

All four are in the running for the most outstanding show title, alongside Australian acts Emma Holland, Gillian Cosgriff, Hannah Camilleri, Laura Davis and Tom Ballard, plus New Zealander Guy Williams.

Seven of the ten nominations are women, making it the first time female acts have outnumbered men. By comparison, the Edinburgh Comedy Award shortlist has not yet achieved parity.

The list also includes a trans comic, Gray and a disabled performer, Jones. However the only comedians of colour are to be found on the best newcomer shortlist.

Up for that award – which is only open to antipodean acts – are Aiden Willcox & Isaac Haigh, Andrew Hamilton, Bron Lewis, Freddie McManus, He Huang, Ray O’Leary and Sashi Perera.

Hamilton was formerly a major Sydney drug dealer whose show revolves his criminal exploits and his time in jail.

The last Brit to win the main award, previously known as the Barry, was James Acaster in 2019, while other winners have included Sam Campbell, Hannah Gadsby, Daniel Kitson, The Boosh and, last year, Rhys Nicholson.

This year’s winners will be announced on Saturday lunchtime local time – the early hours of the morning UK time.

Other awards announced at the ceremony include the Golden Gibbo, to a local, independent show with a strong artistic ethos. As previously announced, the nominees are Woah, Alyssa!, Gillian Cosgriff, Andy Balloch, Liam Sparrow-Gange, and Con Coutis!

Click the links below for reviews of the shortlisted show

Most outstanding show

Emma Holland: Save The Orangutans (was not open to reviewers)
Gillian Cosgriff: Actually, Good
Guy Williams: Comedy Plus Time Equals Tragedy
Hannah Camilleri: Lolly Bag
Jordan Gray: Is It A Bird? (as seen at the Edinburgh Fringe)
Laura Davis: Well Don’t Just Stand There Dancing
Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares? (as seen at the Edinburgh Fringe)
Liz Kingsman: One Woman Show (as seen at Soho Theatre)
Rosie Jones: Triple Threat
Tom Ballard: It Is I

Best newcomer

Aiden Willcox & Isaac Haigh
Andrew Hamilton: Jokes About the Time I Went to Prison
Bron Lewis: Probably
Freddie McManus Is Stoppable
He Huang: Bad Bitch
Ray O’Leary: Everything Funny All The Time Always (was not open to reviewers)
Sashi Perera: Endings

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Published: 19 Apr 2023