PA/08/15 20 March 2015
Indian comedians tickle Melbourne audiences
The Indians are coming to take on Melbourne – not just on the cricket pitch but at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), which begins on 25 March.
Three comedians – the biggest contingent so far from India – will appear at the world-renowned festival, now in its 29th year, giving Australian audiences another chance to experience the depth and breathe of Indian culture.
The Australian Government has been supporting comedy exchanges between Australia and India since 2012, when Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow sent five comedians to India for cultural festival Oz Fest.
Open mic competition Raw Comedy India – a collaboration between MICF and Teamwork Arts – was established at the same time and the winner has appeared at every MICF since 2013.
In Melbourne, audiences will have their funny bones tickled by veteran stand-up performer Papa CJ, Rohan Desai - part of Comedy Zone Asia - and Ruchir Ash, the winner of Raw Comedy India last November.
After playing to sold out audiences in India this year, Papa CJ will share with Melbourne audiences his new show Naked. He promises to bare all in a show filled with tales of school, work, love, sex, passion, heartbreak and hope.
A former winner of Raw Comedy India, Rohan Desai will return to Melbourne to join a showcase of six of Asia’s emerging and established comedians for the first ever Comedy Zone Asia.
Young comedian Ruchir Ash stunned audiences last year with his surprise win of Raw Comedy India – the Kolkata final had been his first major show. He will join other emerging comedians for the Raw Comedy National Final.
MICF is one of the three largest comedy festivals in the world, alongside Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival.
For more information and ticketing details, go to http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/