The inaugural Hobart Festival of Comedy is fast approaching, and today organisers have announced a wildly carnivalesque program for its free Festival Hub, along with a new ticketed late-night comedy experience called Club Chaos.
Welcome to the circus that is the Festival Hub—a chaotic collection of carnivalesque performers including Cathedral carnies, the Roaming Trees stilt walkers, fire breathers, fortune tellers, jugglers, pedal-powered margaritas, and more. Grab a drink, a bite to eat and buckle up for a raucous ride.
A big-top sized helping of live music will sprawl across all four venues In The Hanging Garden, including Mum and Dad, a dance duo from Moonah; Miettes, a performative play on the history of French-ish cabaret; Son del Sur with a sizzling blend of 70s and 80s Salsa straight from the vibrant streets of New York, Puerto Rico, and Cuba; Reeba Von Diamond, mixing hot Jazz with old favourites; and Mangus & Co, with pre-war blues, early trad-jazz and ragtime influences, plus many more.
“It’s been a wild ride for us pulling together the Festival Hub program, and it’s shaping up to be quite the spectacle. The Cathedral will be transformed into a carnivalesque extravaganza resembling a lively side-show alley, creating a world of wonder in the heart of the CBD,” said DarkLab Events Producer Melanie Price.
Amongst all of this is Club Chaos, a late night comedy club that should tickle everyone’s wild side, has also been announced. High Altar (112 Murray St) will be delivering two nights of cabaret, stand up, physical theatre, DJs, drag performance, and the potential for impromptu pop-up performances by some of the festival headliners, with $20 entry on Friday and Saturday nights.
Club Chaos features comedians including retired stripper and secret funny person Bobby Park, sassy jokester and DJ Chloe Black, mustard-obsessed absurdist Dion Dijon, colourful poindexter Emesha Rudolf, Green Room award nominee Jem Nicholas, wildcard storyteller Maxwell, Deadloch alumni Pip Kennedy, Judy’s dance party queen Pussay Poppins, deadly funny Wakka Wakka artist Rob Braslin, witty punchliner Sally Rose, singing contortionist Samora Squid, beloved local dad-joker Steve McNees, velvet- draped songstress Tina Del Twist, with some surprises in store too.
“It’s always such a complex but rewarding task to be in the driver’s seat when programming Tasmanian musicians, comedians and cabaret performers,” said DarkLab Music Program Manager Sam Dowson.
“We have some amazingly talented artists here, and I’d love to see them all receive the recognition that they deserve at every stage of their career. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll definitely find it between the Festival Hub and Club Chaos this March.”
With over 2,000 tickets already sold, several shows have sold out and others are hot on their heels — so audiences will need to get in fast for the few remaining seats.
Spanning three days, featuring 12 headline shows and spread across four venues, the Hobart Festival of Comedy program will encompass a wide spectrum of comedic performances and music, plus much more.
