FESTIVAL DIRECTOR CAUGHT OUT! Oooops! Wrong photo. It's not me I swear! Anyway here it is, the amazing 2004 Big Laugh Comedy Festival program… and it is the best yet! We guarantee there will be at least two must-see shows in here for everyone, all at Sydney's finest theatre complex, Riverside Theatres in Parramatta. A festival is a celebration and the Big Laugh in 2004 really does celebrate comedy in its many forms… We are particularly proud of the two productions we have been deeply involved in putting together; the astonishing and hilarious true story of a real ASIO spy turned comedian, I Spied; and our biggest ever enterprise, the creation of The 3rd Degree - the best of all the university comedy revues in Sydney boiled down to 70 minutes of sure fire laughs. We are also delighted to welcome our biggest ever line-up of international performers. And what a coup to have the voice of Bart Simpson, Nancy Cartwright, in her Australian premiere at the Big Laugh for our opening night. A couple of old mates are back too. Wendy Harmer will host a very special free show called No Laughing In The Library where festival guests will be reading bits from their favourite funny books and Rod Quantock who has appeared at all four Big Laugh festivals will be back with another of his savage and hilarious one man extravaganzas (he claims it is a musical on ice and we don't believe a word of it)! The list goes on and on: Steve Bisley in the Broadway comedy hit Defending The Caveman; The comics from television's hottest sketch show SkitHOUSE; lunatic Japanese daredevils The Tokyo Shock Boys; hilarious musical comics Tripod; and the brilliant UK impressionist Phil Cool, along with another two of the hottest comics from the UK, Boothby Graffoe and Danny Bhoy. There really is something in this program for everyone – go on, flick through! Reward yourself with a laugh and make sure you see at least two of the one-hundred-and-eight opportunities for a great night (or afternoon) out at the 2004 Big Laugh Comedy Festival! Get your tickets NOW and we will see you after your show in the bar.
John Pinder Director PS Thanks to all the artists, co-producers, sponsors and staff...
1
CARTWRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS
NANCY CARTWRIGHT (THE VOICE OF BART SIMPSON) MY LIFE AS A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY You may not even know what she looks like, but Nancy Cartwright is an international television comedy legend famous for her fifteen-year stint as the voice of the most precocious, irreverent and intriguing 10-year-old boy the world has ever known - Bart Simpson! For two shows only, the woman of a thousand voices will deliver the hilarious ‘warts-and-all’ inside story on the most successful animated series ever, The Simpsons. With side-splitting clips from The Simpsons, Rugrats and Kim Possible and stranger than fiction anecdotes about the stars that have made guest appearances on the shows – like Meryl Streep and Mel Gibson – this is a once-in-a-lifetime treat for any fan of the world’s favourite yellow family.
3
THE BIG (OPENING NIGHT) BANG
TOKEN PRESENTS
TRIPOD Scod, Yon and Gatesy are three of the funniest musical blokes in the country. You probably know them better as Tripod, the stars of the Ten Network hit comedy show skitHOUSE and the highlight of Triple J’s breakfast show every Tuesday. These guys have cracked up almost every major radio and television station in the country, played to sell-out houses everywhere, released two full-length albums and generally torn up the comedy circuit with their looney-tune antics. And they're not afraid to admit that they’re quite comfortable doing three-part harmony with other men.
“A beautifully performed rollercoaster ride of captivating nonsense, fabulous comedy and music... definitely go and see them!” THE SCOTSMAN “Obscenely talented. A festival highlight.”
THE AGE
“The funniest musical comedy act in the country” D T V P
5
20 March 9.30pm Riverside Theatre $31.90 full, $27.90 concession
HERALD SUN
TOKEN PRESENTS
DAVE HUGHES Dave Hughes is one of Australia's most impressive stand-up comedians, a rare beast in that every other comedian in Australia is only too ready to sing his praises. A natural and un-mistakably Australian comic, Dave's laconic style thinly disguises one of the fastest comic minds this country has ever seen. For the last two years, Hughesy has been clambering out of bed to make Melbourne laugh every morning with Kate Langbroek and Dave O'Neil on Nova 100's award winning Breakfast Show. When Hughesy isn't getting up at sparrow's to talk on the radio, he is hopping on a plane to Sydney to be one third of ABC-TV's late night cult offering – The Glass House. Dave is simply this country's hottest live stand-up and his last series of shows in Sydney completely sold out. You don't want to miss anything he says – so buy a ticket now!
“Hughes had a good time and the audience was in stitches. Mission accomplished.” THE AGE “Dave Hughes is one of the funniest men in a city that has produced many of Australia's funniest people.” SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SYDNEY D T V P
7
13 & 14 March 7.30pm Sat, 5pm Sun Riverside Theatre $33 all tickets
THE FABULOUS SINGLETTES
-do r i Ha
FROM BEEHIVE TO BOTOX They're back… more outrageous than ever after all these years… Naomi Eyers has led the Fabulous Singlettes around the world for fifteen years. They’ve done it all, from Sydney to The West End, via Vienna and Verona and Hong Kong to a recent record run in Berlin. Hilarious, divine and a delicious tongue-in-cheek tribute to the legendary girl groups, The Fabulous Singlettes have become an Australian comedy cabaret legend around the world. They may be a little bit older, but they still keep everything lifted as high as their beehives. So Da Doo Ron Ron down to the box office and grab your seat.
“Impeccable comic timing, gloriously talented and tackily elegant” THE AGE
D T V P
9
26 & 27 March 7.30pm Riverside Theatre $34.90 full, $31.90 concession
FREE DRINK FOER ST THE TALL THE “DO” ON !!! NIGHT
MARK MORRISSEY & ASSOCIATES AND PARRAMATTA’S BIG LAUGH COMEDY FESTIVAL PRESENT
I SPIED TRUE CONFESSIONS OF AN EX-ASIO OPERATIVE Written and performed by David Callan The only spook ever to leave the spying game for the comedy game! This is the hilarious true story of ASIO operative David 'Frosty' Callan's contribution to the security of Australia in dark and dangerous times. You’ll wonder how this guy ever got through the rigid psychological testing and security checks but it’s TRUE - Callan was really there. And it was supposed to be a secret…
“Fabulous… I Spied is a fascinating and funny show and Callan is a top (secret) performer. Check it out. This review will self-destruct in five seconds” DRUM MEDIA “Bloody funny! He knows his stuff and he knows your stuff too!” CNNN ABCTV
“He is armed with a Colt 45, and enough gags to delight… Part Bond…and part Jonny English… [this] one-man performance is a winner” ABC RADIO D T V P
11
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27 March 7.15pm Tues– Sat, 5.15pm Sun Lennox Theatre $24.90 full, $19.90 concession
GARRY VAN EGMOND & ROSS MOLLISON PRESENT
DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN
SYDNE PREMIE Y RE!
STEVE BISLEY By Rob Becker In Broadway’s longest running one-man show, the much-maligned male finally gets to stand up for himself. This hilarious show forces us to laugh at the truth as it attempts to answer the universal question… why do men and women misunderstand each other? This is the show that is finally getting men out of their caves and into the theatre with their wives and girlfriends. If you are married, see this show… if you are dating, see this show… if you are single, you DESPERATELY need to see this show... it will save your relationship!
“Hilarious! Probes the male mystique with a well-aimed spear” SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
“Hysterically funny! made me laugh until I had tears rolling down my cheeks” VARIETY “Caveman is a nationwide comic phenomenon!” NEW YORK TIMES “Besides being very funny, the show is excellent relationship therapy!” MELBOURNE WEEKLY
D T V P
13
16, 17, 18 March 7.30pm Riverside Theatre $45 full, $40 concession, $30 youth
THE BIG F ISH ! THE BIGGESTIN L IN VERY MULTICU E-UP! VERY, VERY FULTURAL! NNY!
A-LIST ENTERTAINMENT
TAHIR PRESENTS SHOW US YOUR ROOTS! Ten of Australia’s top stand-up comedians show us their roots and give their hilarious take on what it’s like growing up in a country that calls itself ‘multicultural’. Featuring Anthony Mir from Lebanon (You Cant Stop the Murders) Akmal Saleh from Egypt (The Glasshouse), Desh from India (The Footy Show), Chris Wainhouse from New Zealand (ROVE Live), Tommy Dean from the USA (writer for The Fat) Ronan McChesnie from Ireland, Trevor Crook from the UK and Nick Sun from China - with your host for the evening Tahir (Habib from Pizza)! Don't miss Show Us Ya Roots direct from the National Multicultural Festival, Canberra.
“What fascinated me was the common thread of irony, done in the Australian laconic manner which linked performers of such diverse backgrounds… This deserves to become… a tradition” THE CANBERRA TIMES
AKMAL SALEH
TAHIR D T V P
26, 27 March 9.30pm Riverside Theatre $34.90 full, $31.90 concession
ANTHONY MIR TOMMY DEAN
15
DESH CHRIS WAINHOUSE
MAGGIE GERRAND PRESENTS DIRECT FROM SCOTLAND
DANNY BHOY Danny Bhoy, at only 28, is one of the international stand-up circuit’s most sought-after performers, having performed and sold out at festivals all over the world including Edinburgh Fringe Festival, New York and Montreal. This ‘Hot Scot’ came to Australia in 2003 as a virtual unknown. He left as one of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s brightest new stars, performing to packed houses and with additional shows being added to cope with the demand. Danny Bhoy’s accents, impersonations, sexy looks and considerable charm will have you alternating between swoons and belly-laughs the whole show.
“Heaven knows where he gets his charm from, but the boy has it by the bucketload... This man brings some of the female members of the audience dangerously close to orgasm... Moments of improvisational glee.” THE SCOTSMAN
“…his accents and impersonations are sublime” THE SUNDAY AGE
"growing up poor and Indian in a small Scottish town has given Danny Bhoy plenty to laugh about...It gave birth to a prodigious stand up career" SUNDAY HERALD SUN
17
D T V P
19, 20, 21 March 9.15pm Fri & Sat, 7pm Sun Lennox Theatre $31.90 full, $27.90 concession
ROD QUANTOCK
HOWARD ON ICE: THE MUSICAL For the first time in a dazzling and illustrious career that spans more than three decades, Rod Quantock, the aging inventor of sit-down comedy©, proudly presents…
A MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA ON ICE! At the National Press Club Launch of HOWARD ON ICE – THE MUSICAL Quantock said “People were always saying to me, ‘Forget politics, why don’t you do a musical extravaganza on ice?’”. Well, of course the eight-times winner of the coveted Australian Comedy Association’s Golden Guy Fawkes Award for the comedian voted most likely to blow up Parliament could hardly ‘forget politics’ … so he forgot the ice and the music instead. But he will be presenting for the very first time anywhere… sit-down© comedy. WARNING: May contain some John Howard
“Revolutionary, outrageous master of effortless comedy” THE AUSTRALIAN “He is our best political comedian. He may simply be our best comedian” HERALD SUN “For sheer cheek and inventiveness, the amazing Rod Quantock must take the honours. Bizarre, fresh, theatrically dangerous, unpredictable” THE GUARDIAN, UK D T V P
19
12, 13 14 March 7.30pm Fri & Sat, 5.15pm Sun Lennox Theatre $31.90 full, $27.90 concession
ACCESSCOMEDY.COM PRESENTS THE WORLD’S MOST ISOLATED COMEDIAN! DIRECT FROM ALICE SPRINGS... THE GENIUS OF
FIONA O’LOUGHLIN ME OF THE NEVER NEVER The mother of five young children, Fiona O’Loughlin isn’t exactly your average comedian. Following her Sydney debut at the Sydney Opera House in Me of the Never Never, she returns by popular demand and will again divulge way too many things that mothers really shouldn’t. Hilarious and un-missable!
“A great blend of mirth and malevolence. Her genius as a stand-up is her unbridled honesty...” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (DEC 2003) “...fresh hilarity... extremely infectious. ****” D 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 March T 7.30pm
V Raffertys Theatre P $28.90 full, $24.90 concession
ACCESSCOMEDY.COM PRESENTS
MATTHEW HARDY WILLY WONKA EXPLAINED Matthew is well known for his performances on The Big Schmooze (Foxtel) and The Fat (ABC TV). Less well known is his obsession with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... in this hysterical new show Matthew gets in behind the plot and shows how Willy Wonka and chocolate have influenced us and the world around us...
“Matthew Hardy is charming and amiable, delighting both the men and women in the audience as he treads the fraught topic of sexual politics” THE SUNDAY AGE NOTE: This is for Big Kids only.
D 16 & 17 March T 9.30pm
21
V Raffertys Theatre P $21.90 full, $17.90 concession
THE LIST, EDINBURGH
BEDROOM PHILOSOPHER VS SHOCK OF THE NEW Get into bed with some of the finest fresh meat from Australia's DIY comedy renaissance.
DAVE BLOUSTIEN, STEVE FREEMAN, DANIEL TOWNES, NICK SUN
Triple J's comedic folkstar The Bedroom Philosopher (TAS) joins rising stars Shock of the New (NSW / SA) for a no-holds barred evening of stand-up, song, and Tasmanian conscience wrestling. So strap on your doona and grip those pillows tight: it's the comedy slugfest of the century!
Featuring Dave Bloustien, Steve Freeman, Daniel Townes, Nick Sun & The Bedroom Philosopher
THE BEDROOM PHILOSOPHER
D 12, 13, 19, 20 March T 10.30pm
V Raffertys Theatre P $16.90 full, $12.90 concession
ACCESSCOMEDY.COM PRESENTS
DAVID ELVINS & SEAN CHOOLBURRA HOW AUSSIE IS THAT? David and Sean are amongst the cream of the crop of emerging Australian comedy talent, the National Champion and Runner Up respectively of the prestigious Raw Comedy National Final in 2003 (ABC TV), they’re fresh, smart and hilarious! Now they’ve come together to write an hysterical show that looks hard at our national underbelly. No-one can laugh at themselves like an Aussie... Aussie comedy has always celebrated the easy going attitude of our country. But have things changed? David and Sean find out what’s so funny about our real 21st century cultural identity. D 12, 13, 14 March T 7.30pm Fri & Sat, 5pm Sun
23
V Raffertys Theatre P $21.90 full, $17.90 concession
SEAN CHOOLBURRA DAVID ELVINS
THE FREEEEE NO LAUGHING IN THE LIBRARY Hosted By Wendy Harmer with Festival Guests. Presented in association with Parramatta City Library. Funny people reading their favourite funny authors in an All Star FREE festival special event. Believe it or Not! A literary reading by comedians reading from the books that make them laugh. A brilliant and revealing free show. Come and discover the stars’ favourite reading material plus much more in a delicious afternoon of literacy, illiteracy and lunacy. D 13 March T 4pm* V Lennox Theatre *Entry is FREE but strictly limited to 200 people. You MUST reserve your seat by phoning the No Laughing in the Library hotline on 8839 3356.
RICHARD TIPPING’S SIGN LANGUAGE The Courtyard and Foyers will be transformed into an alternate universe, where obeying signs can be confusing. In this world STOP signs read GO, shop signs read SORRY, WE’RE OPEN, a roundabout is your EXIT AND this time Jill Posters will be prosecuted! LEGALISE ACNE NOW Famous for his fresh takes on Aussie signs Richard’s Sign Language features sixty of his best and funniest found signs from the strange world of the public street. They’ll be showing on the big screen in the Courtyard, along with some surprising and juicy words painted on the walls…
25
You have been warned!
THE BIG LAUGH
CARTOON & CARICATURE COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION For the third year, The Big Laugh’s Cartoon and Caricature competition will seek out and display the best work of Australia’s budding young cartoonists. Primary and Secondary students are invited to submit cartoons or caricatures , which may include: •
Caricatures of famous people - Pop Stars, Sports Stars, TV Stars, Politicians, You name it – we want it!
•
Cartoons with a twisted view of the world we live in
For both the Primary and Secondary categories there will be a CASH prize for the winning cartoonists ($200 1st, $100 2nd and $75 3rd), a $200 prize for the school’s library fund for the first prize-winners AND the chance to have your cartoon exhibited in the Riverside Theatres foyer during The Big Laugh Comedy Festival. The exhibition will be open during the festival from 10am till close every day and entry is free. Come and check out a whacky view of the world as seen through the eyes of our next generation of cartoonists. It’s always funny and a little bit disturbing! If you’d like to enter telephone 02 8839 3398 or download an entry form at www.biglaughriverside.com.au/cartoon.html
27
PRIZE PRESENTATION MADE
BE THE PRESENTATION OF PRIZES WILL SION CLU CON THE BY WENDY HARMER AT ON ARY LIBR THE OF NO LAUGHING IN 13 MARCH AT 5.30PM.
CALENDAR FRI 12
SAT 13
SUN 14
MON 15
TUES 16
WED 17
THURS 18
7.30PM
7.30PM
7.30PM
9.30PM
9.30PM
9PM
9PM
9PM
7.15PM
7.15PM
7.15PM
RIVERSIDE THEATRE NANCY CARTWRIGHT: MY LIFE AS A TEN-YEAR-OLD BOY
7.30PM
PHIL COOL: ON HEAT
9.30PM
DAVE HUGHES
2PM 7.30PM
5PM
DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS: DIRECTORS CUT KRAMER ON SEINFELD THE SKITHOUSE COMEDIANS STAND-UP TRIPOD THE TOKYO SHOCK BOYS THE SHNEEDLES:LUGGAGE THE FABULOUS SINGLETTES: FROM BEEHIVE TO BOTOX TAHIR AND FRIENDS: SHOW US YA ROOTS LENNOX THEATRE ROD QUANTOCK: HOWARD ON ICE: THE MUSICAL
7.30PM
7.30PM
THE 3RD DEGREE: GENERATION HECS
9PM
9PM
NO LAUGHING IN THE LIBRARY
5.15PM 3PM
4PM
I SPIED: TRUE CONFESSIONS OF AN EX-ASIO OFFICER DANNY BHOY BOOTHBY GRAFFOE RAFFERTYS THEATRE GOD INC.
9.15PM
9.15PM
THE BEDROOOM PHILOSOPHER VS SHOCK OF THE NEW
10.30PM
10.30PM
DAVID ELVINS & SEAN CHOOLBURRA: HOW AUSSIE IS THAT?
7.30PM
7.30PM
9.15PM
5PM
MATTHEW HARDY: WILLY WONKA EXPLAINED
9.30PM
9.30PM
7.30PM
7.30PM
REALITY GONE WRONG PLUCK FIONA O'LOUGHLAN: ME OF THE NEVER NEVER
7.30PM
THE CANDOR ROOM FOUR PLAY: PIECES OF PLAY 2004
730PM
730PM
7.30PM
THE COURTYARD THE TICKLERS
ALL NIGHT
ALL NIGHT
THE TICKLERS: MUSIC TO SILENT MOVIES
9PM
9PM
ALL ARVO
ALL NIGHT
ALL NIGHT
ALL NIGHT
RICHARD TIPPING: SIGN LANGUAGE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
CHASER MERCHANDISE
6.30PM TIL CLOSE
3PM TIL CLOSE
1PM TIL CLOSE
CARTOON & CARICATURE COMPETITION EXHIBITION
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
IAN: CARTOON EXHIBITION
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
10AM TIL CLOSE
THEATRE FOYERS
29
WHERE IT’S ALL AT
PARRAMATTA
OW! BOOK 9N339 9 02 883
CALL 131500 OR GO TO www.131500.com.au FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFORMATION DRIVING? The closest carpark to the Theatres is the Riverbank Shopping Centre Carpark. Access to this carpark is from Phillip Street, between the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the AGC building. There is additional parking at Crowne Plaza and Erby Place (please see above map for more details)
31
33
www.biglaughriverside.com.au Š Richard Tipping 2004. See Sign Language at the Big Laugh Comedy Festival