A-Z of COmedy

With so many Fringe comedy and magic shows to take in over the coming couple of months, we all need a little help navigating this entertainment maze. So, how about an A–Z of acts and shows? OK, here it is then

ALICE FRASER

A comic who challenges the brain and bashes away at the funnybone, Fraser’s Twist considers the moments when life chucks an unexpected turn at you.

The Howling Owl, 28 February–4 March.

BEN STEVENSON

The Australian Radio Awards winner offers a spin on the ‘dead dad’ show with a ‘deceased mum’ tale. In Ratbag, Stevenson discusses the nickname his late mother gave him (ouch) and the journey he took with his own grief.

Laugh Lounge, 22–25 February.

CLAIRE HOOPER

The very talented stand-up aka ‘Australia’s sweetheart’ puts on a single show of Sweet Charity, as she recalls all the terribly kind things she’s done of late.

Rhino Room, 11 March.

DOM CHAMBERS

Co-creator of beloved ensemble magic show The Purple Rabbit, Chambers claims here to be a Fake Wizard, while proving that he is anything but with his latest set of confounding tricks.

The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, 17 February–19 March (not 20, 27 February, 6, 13 March).

EVERYTHING IS A LIE

‘Rage-filled angel’ Lauren Edwards offers up a charming line in existential dread as she ponders exactly what people mean when they insist that they have it all.

The Jade, 12, 14–17 March.

FIRE BRAND

Nick Schuller is clearly one to watch, having provided support for the likes of Cal Wilson and Phil Wang. For his Adelaide show, he’s reflecting on that time the family home was burned down in the 2019 bushfires. Look forward to seeing how he makes that funny.

Gluttony, 18 & 19, 25 & 26 February.

GROWING PAINS

Not many stand-up shows at the Fringe will feature storytelling, rap and acrobatics, so get on board with gymnast/circus artist Daniel Tohill.

Laugh Lounge, 8–12 March.

HYPNOTIST MATT HALE

Looking to unlock the talents of his ‘victims’ rather than embarrass, humiliate, shame, debase and destroy them, this comedy hypnotist launches a show that takes us all back to 1985. Even the ones who weren’t born at that point.

Gluttony, 21 February–19 March (not 27 February, 2, 6 March).

IMPROMPTUNES

Who doesn’t love a wholly improvised musical just made up on the spot right in front you? A meanie, that’s who. Marking a decade of adlibbing, this quintet is as safe a pair of hands as you can get in this game.

Gluttony, 17–26 February (not 20).

JOANNE MCNALLY

All aboard The Prosecco Express as Irish comic McNally considers ageing, dating, drinking and dying. All of it is funny, though, fret not.

The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, 17–19 March.

KARAN SINGH MAGIC

Apparently, Singh has had the likes of Derren Brown and Dynamo scratching their heads, wondering how on earth he just did that. Will he bamboozle you, too? Unless you have more insight into conjuring than that pair, then yes, almost certainly.

Gluttony, 28 February–5 March.

LANO & WOODLEY

The double-act veterans return, wielding their inventive brand of storytelling comedy upon the epic tale of Moby Dick. What can go wrong?

The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, 9–19 March (not 13–15).

MATT TARRANT

What lies in Fate, the all-new magic show from this Adelaide Fringe Award winner (seven times over)? Topnotch mentalism, that’s what.

Gluttony, 21, 24–26, 28 February, 3–5 March.

NATH VALVO

If you’ve followed Valvo down the years, then this is the ultimate treat as he crams in some of his own favourite bits into a mere 60 minutes. Rhino Room, 28 February–4 March.

Rhino Rooms, 28 February-4 March

OLLIE HORN

This UK stand-up has two shows at the Fringe, but for our purposes we’ll go for the one with the longest title: Ollie Horn Arrogantly Believes An Hour Of His New Material Is Worth $25. It’s catchy, for sure.

Ayers House Events, 10 & 11, 17 & 18 March.

PICKLED SINK

Dubbing himself a ‘professional idiot,’ Will Tredinnick throws himself into a physical comedy melee, in a show that promises to be both charming and nonsensical.

The Mill, 8–19 March (not 13 & 14).

QUEEN FEE

Fiona ‘Queen Fee’ O’Loughlin joins forces with Nickyboy for two full-length sets. Strap yourselves in for a pair of different comics at the top of their respective games.

Various venues, 18, 24, 26 February, 2 March.

ROSS NOBLE

The English adlibbing comic who has long since settled in Australia produces yet another bamboozling and freewheeling hour with the very Noble-like title of Jibber Jabber Jamboree

Gluttony, 17 February–19 March (not 20, 27 February, 6, 13 March).

SAM CAMPBELL

He went to the Edinburgh Fringe last summer and came back with the biggest prize in comedy. All hail the lad Campbell as he proves that daftness can still trump relatability in the stand-up stakes.

The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, 13–19 March.

TOM BALLARD

Another regular darling of the Edinburgh comedy set is this more politically focused stand-up who brings us It Is I, a show about family, art and the pandemic.

Rhino Room, 14–18 March.

UMBILICAL BROTHERS

The bendiest siblings in comedy return with a show that should make you forget those little screens that seem to dominate our lives . . . as they put a massive one slapbang in the middle of their stage.

The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, 17 February–19 March (not 20, 27 February, 6, 15 March).

VIDA SLAYMAN

Comedy Of Terrors is all about parenthood and the trials and tribulations thereof. It’s also about war and traversing the continents.

Rhino Room, 28 February–4 March.

WOMEN LIKE US

A name that is open to varying interpretations with Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs proving that you don’t need to be a skinny-jeaned, weird-haired twentysomething chap to do this comedy game. Giving a funny spin to the mundane is their schtick.

The Howling Owl, 7–11 March.

X - CAREY MARX

OK, we struggled to find a comedy or magic show beginning with ‘x’, so we just had to namecheck someone who happened to have one in their name. But we shouldn’t need to shoehorn in a reason to talk up one of the most reliably funny comics working the UK circuit over the past three decades.

The Griffins, 17 February–18 March.

YOZI: NO BABIES IN THE SAUNA

That title simply sounds like common-sense advice, and Yozi has other slices of wisdom to offload on people who just don’t want to play by life’s rules, both the written ones and the other kind.

My Lover Cindi, 13–16 March.

ZOODLE IN THE PUB

Homegrown science-comedy show which all started with an ambition to spread the word on conservation issues to the general public. But with jokes, of course.

The Rob Roy Hotel, 8, 15 March.

For full listings details, go to list.co.uk/adelaide-festival