Sydneys Top 10 Comedy Venues
Sure, we all like to laugh - but sometimes you want something more specific. Established acts? Up-and-comers? Open mic? Proximity to ferris wheels?
Andrew P Street finds something to cater to every comedic taste. All you have to do is complete the following sentence: "I wanna see me some...
1 ...quality open mic!"
Friend In Hand
The Mic In Hand is a Glebe comedy institution for its welcoming, give-it-a-good-shot attitude and it's impressive strike rate of high-quality funny. Not only does it bring the funny from eight of Sydney's best up-and-comers every Thursday night, it's also the place of choice for high-profile comics to try out their new material - so you're likely to get a preview of one of next year's biggest comedy shows.
58 Cowper St, Glebe 2037. (02 9660 2326)
2 ...national stars!"
Comedy Store
The Sydney Comedy Store is the cream of the national touring comics, with the odd international artist thrown in. After closing down temporarily Century Venues have taken over and revitalised the Comedy Store and from Wed 5 Nov it will once again be delivering surperb comedy to Sydney. Sydney Comedy Store, Entertainment Quarter, 207/122 Lang Rd, Moore Park 2021. (02 9357 1419)
3 ...free comedy!"
Harold Park Hotel
There are many things to recommend the Harold Park Hotel - it's the comedy venue closest to dog racing, for one - but the main thing is that it's long been providing completely free comedy for Sydney's laugh-enthusiasts - as well as offering a stage for up-and-coming comic talent week in, week out. Lob in on a Tuesday night and see what fate has in store for you.
70a Ross St, Glebe 2037. (02 9660 4745)
4 ...improvised comedy and theatresports!"
Impro Australia
As the name suggests, these clowns have the improvisational game sewn up in Sydney. Their regular ‘Scared Scriptless' Friday night show is currently in search of a new home, but be advised that their Celebrity Theatresports happens at the Enmore Theatre on Sat 2 Aug - and the heats for the annual Cranston Cup (the competition for the state's best improvisational comedic troupe) kick off in September.
5 ...comedy with convenient access to amusement park rides!"
Ha Ha Harbour
Why not make a day of it: some sugary sweets and amusement park rides at Luna Park during the day, then a nice drink and a meal at Sonar in preparation for Ha Ha Harbour, their Thursday night comedy event with the best of Sydney's comic talent on offer?
Sonar, 1 Olympic Dr, Milsons Point 2061. (02 9033 7666)
6 ...great local comedians!"
The Roxbury
Having just extended to monthly Friday and Saturday shows on top of their regular Comedy On The Rox Wednesday night showcase (which also features one of the Sydney's hardest-fought open mic competitions, Quest For The Best), the Roxbury is a firm favourite among Sydney's comics. The venue also makes a particular effort to support young up-and-coming comics (including school-age laffmeisters), and provides a home for the wildly-popular semi-regular all-female Wicked Women's Comedy Night.
182 St. Johns Rd, Glebe 2037. (02 9692 0822)
7 ...comedy performed in a rock'n'roll environment!"
The Gaelic Theatre
Sure, you've attended the Gaelic Theatre primarily for kick-ass rock gigs - but they've recently expanded the brief to include damn near everything: dance parties, burlesque nights, and - best of all, for our purposes - quality comedy from big-name locals, touring acts and their monthly Off The Cuff improvisational comedy night.
64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills 2010. (02 9211 1687)
8 ...comedy performed in a competitive, gladiatorial spirit!"
Star Bar
35 comedians go head to head across ten weeks of competition at the former Planet Hollywood, with one of them walking away with $3000 in cash and prizes. And you have complete control over their fate, since the whole thing is determined by audience votes. You'll be like some sort of comedy god, meting out humour-specific judgement every Friday night until mid-August.
600 George Street, Sydney 2000. (02 9267 7827)
9 ...comedy while I enjoy a meal!"
The Fringe Bar
While dinner and a show is hardly a unique concept, the Fringe Bar serve up fine dining in Greenwich Village-esque surrounds - perfect for the sort of urbane comedians that they throw up for your entertainment every Monday night. It also boasts a decent wine list - which enhances the comedy, obviously.
106 Oxford St, Paddington 2021.(02 9360 5443)
10 ...Bingo!"
Sandringham Hotel
On the last(ish) Monday of every month the Sando holds its bingo night, with a hearty serving of comedy thrown in. It's free to observe the open mic downstairs, but it'll cost you $10 to compete upstairs on the field of Bingo. Start preparing your witty "legs-eleven"-style rejoinders now, would-be comic bingoers and bingettes! 387 King St, Newtown 2042. (02 9557 1254)