A FRESH run of comedy nights is set to energise the Redlands and Bayside over the coming months, with venues across Cleveland, Capalaba, Victoria Point and Wynnum locking in lineups that promise everything from polished touring acts to chaotic open mic energy.
The Redlands Performing Arts Centre will kick things off in August hosting a double-header weekend featuring Brisbane favourite Ting Lim and nationally touring comic Daniel Connell.
RPAC staff say comedy has become one of the centre’s most in-demand genres, with last year’s stand up season selling out faster than several major theatre productions.
This year’s program is shaping up to be even bigger, with headline acts including Dave Hughes’ Cooked and Anh Do’s The Happiest Refugee Live.
Combined with a growing roster of touring and emerging comedians, RPAC’s lineup promises plenty of laughs for Redlands audiences.
Smaller venues are stepping up too.
Cleveland’s The Cleveland Sands Hotel will continue its monthly comedy night through July and August, offering locals a chance to catch rising comics testing new material.
Organisers say Redlands and Bayside crowds have developed a reputation for being both warm and brutally honest, ideal conditions for comedians fine tuning their sets.
Capalaba’s The Backyard Bar is also expanding its open mic nights, adding extra dates in September after consistently packed rooms earlier this year.
Across the water, Wynnum and Manly are preparing for a string of coastal comedy events.
The Wynnum Fringe Hub will host two touring acts in October, including a preview show from a major festival headliner who’s chosen the Bayside over inner-city theatres to trial new work.
Meanwhile, Manly Deck is launching a new “Sunday Sesh Comedy” series beginning in August, aiming to blend live music with short stand up sets from local performers.
With national names dropping in, grassroots talent on the rise, and venues embracing the region’s appetite for humour, the Redlands and Bayside are shaping up for one of their busiest comedy seasons yet.
For residents keen on a night out close to home, the next few months offer no shortage of reasons to laugh.
