Yawp Mag ISSUE 19 Getting Ready for the Comedy Festival | Page 24

Hist
ory
The MICF hasn't always seen smooth sailing, with

of t
he M

However, despite these setbacks, it was clear
that the introduction of the MICF had changed the
Melbourne comedy scene, which had entered a
helped cement Melbourne's reputation as a centre
of comedy, both locally and internationally.
has had continued yearly success, with revenue
and attendance numbers increasing. By 1999,
over 120 shows were included in the festival and
in 2010, 369 shows were held, providing $10.9
was impressive: $12 million, with over 606,000
people attending a festival event.

Comedian Julia Morris in the opening number of the MICF All-star
Gala. (picture: Bruce Magilton. source: The Australian.)

Night Super Show', and 'Upfront', which is a
night of performances featuring only female
comedians.
The festival also produces three primary
development programs: 'RAW Comedy', which is
Australia's biggest open mic comedy competition,
running between January and April each year and
holds heats in every state and territory, as well as
in regional centres. The MICF has been producing
'RAW' since 1996 and previous 'RAW ' winners and
Gadsby, Peter Helliar, Tim Minchin and Ronny
Chieng. The ultimate 'RAW Comedy' National
Champion travels to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
to compete in 'So You Think You're Funny?'

The MICF also holds major events, including its
'Roadshow' which travels around Australia (as well
as Singapore and Hong Kong) providing festival
highlights to over 80,000 comedy lovers. Another
MICF major event is the televised 'Gala', featuring
short performances from many headline and
award-winning comics. Since 1995 the 'Gala' has
been a charity event, with all proceeds from the live
performance and the screening going to Oxfam
Australia. Other featured events include 'The Great
Debate', a televised comedy debate, the 'Opening