Can Comedy Save the World?
Byron Comedy Festival say yes! And it’s not just the world they’re saving, it’s you!
Get yourself ready for the transformative healing power of laughter when the best of comedy from the National and International circuit hits Byron Bay, 1–4 June.
Opening night features Murwillumbah’s own Bob Downe! He can sing, he can dance, he takes very good care of his hair, and he is unmatched when it comes to showbiz sparkle and laughs. Bob Downe is one of the most enduring five-star comedy acts on the circuit. He’s Julia Morris meets Jamie Redfern! He’s Dame Edna meets Bublé! He presents his live show with some classic Downe hits.
Other festival headlines include Paul McDermott and his long suffering sidekick, known only as +1. Together they present the mayhem, beauty and wonder of a full societal critique.
Women rule the roost at this year’s Byron Comedy Fest with Mandy Nolan presenting a spectacular gala of women’s comedy: Women on Top. Starring Mel Buttle and Kirsty Webeck, and showcasing the talents of Melbourne International Comedy Festival faves: Janty Blair, Alexandra Hudson, Ting Lim and Vanessa Mitchell. Mandy will also premiere her brand new show The Candidate, fresh from a season at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Ting Lim presents her festival smash as well: Every Ting or No Ting.
Akmal’s new show Not Dead Yet has been ‘laying them in the aisles’. Unguarded and impossible not to love, Akmal digs deep with this latest reflection on his life in the biz 30 years on.
Best of British return with some of the cheekiest wits the Brits have on offer. It’s hosted by Dan Willis and featuring Jeff Green, Nikky Wilkinson and Luke Benson, with a comedy panel asking ‘Can Comedy Save the World?’ that features comedians with a political edge who believe jokes can be powerful.
There are new comedy aspirants battling it out for supremacy in Akmal’s Comedy Slam for the golden handshake and the $1k cheque. There’s a touch of test cricket when Mick Neven presents The Ashes – where three Brit comics try and beat the Aussies; where ‘runs’ are laughs and ‘overs’ are blistering seven-minute sets!
All this and impromptu art sessions with Pricasso, the man who paints portraits with his penis.
The kids are in on the action too with Matt Grey’s Game On & 101 Ways to Annoy your Parents & Other Really Old People!
Byron Comedy Fest 1–4 June. Tickets are on sale now.
For program and ticket info go to byroncomedyfest.com.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
