JUST FOR LAUGHS SYDNEY 2022 REVEALS LINE-UP

Global leader in comedy, Just For Laughs, is pleased to announce the return of Just For Laughs Sydney, taking place between 28 November and 4 December 2022, inclusive, and a new strategic partnership with the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

NSW Minister for the Arts and Tourism Ben Franklin said, “I am delighted the NSW Government is partnering with Just For Laughs through Destination NSW to bring this brilliant world renowned comedy festival back to Sydney. We could all do with a good laugh after the past few years, which have been incredibly challenging for our tourism and creative industries. Bringing an event like this to Sydney is as much about putting smiles on faces as it is about supporting our city’s visitor and night-time economy. Just for Laughs Sydney will be a major visitor drawcard and is a fantastic addition to the incredible calendar of events we have ahead exclusively for Sydney over summer.”

To commemorate the partnership, the festival which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year is announcing several new Sydney exclusive shows and is thrilled to reveal that comedy icon Eric Idle will headline a special ‘In Conversation’ with a surprise host at the State Theatre on Thursday, December 1.

A Sydney exclusive, international superstar of comedy, music, acting and writing and member of the legendary comedy group Monty Python, Eric Idle will be performing his show Say No More – A Conversation with Eric Idle solely at the Just For Laughs Sydney Festival. “I am thrilled to be coming to Just for Laughs in Sydney. I love Sydney, I married an Australian, I have many friends in Australia and I have been visiting since 1976”, says Eric Idle.

Debuting at the festival this year will be First Nations Funnies. A collaboration between the fabulous Steph Tisdell and Just For Laughs Sydney. Steph will be curating this new show and inviting five other hilarious First Nations’ comedians to perform with her including Dane Simpson, Janty Blair, Andy Saunders, Kevin Kropinyeri and Jay Wymarra.

Another major first for this edition of the festival will be the Just For Laughs Musical Comedy Gala – Musical Comedy IS Cool, a musical gala hosted by everyone’s favourite sketch group, Aunty Donna and featuring a wild and fun line-up of hilarious musical comedy acts including Matt Okine, Michelle Brasier, Two Hearts, Jude Perl and more to be announced. The Gala will feature a house DJ, and will be high energy, promising to be like nothing you have ever seen before.

Also new to the programming this year is the Alternative Show, hosted by festival favourite Randy Feltface. It will be a night of weird and whacky humour with a line-up of some of the most talented, quirky and of course funniest comedians.

Returning to the Just For Laughs Sydney stage once more, is nationally acclaimed comedian Tommy Little (co-host of The Project on Network 10, and his popular Hit Network radio show with Carrie Bickmore) who will host the festival’s crown jewel, the Just For Laughs All-Star Gala. Due to popular demand, the festival is adding a 2nd show on Friday 2nd December. The galas feature a stellar line-up of the best local and international comedians including Rhys Nicholson and Melanie Bracewell and special guest for the Saturday show only Urzila Carlson.

Wil Anderson will also be part of the festival bringing his award-winning hit podcast Wilosophy live to the Opera House for two shows. Wil will be asking his special guests stupid questions as he tries to discover the meaning of life.

The hit Just For Laughs Australia: Live shows will return with host Nath Valvo. Nath’s rapid-fire wit, sharp, observational comedy and high energy have established him as one of the most in demand comedians in the country. With a different lineup at each show, Just For Laughs Australia: Live filmed for TV features more than 30 top Australian and international comedians. Just for Laughs Australia season 9 will premiere on Network 10 in 2023.

With all of these shows being exclusive to Sydney and with never to be repeated world-class line-ups, Just for Laughs Sydney is an important and exciting event for New South Wales and comedy lovers.

These new additions to the festival’s extensive line-up join previously announced world-class comedians including Alan Carr, Sandi Toksvig, Jimmy O. Yang, Rob Beckett, Nish Kumar, Nurse Blake, Vir Das and RocKwiz Live!

With many of the shows already selling out, the festival is bringing locals back to the theatres and drawing interstate and international visitors back to NSW. The new partnership with Destination New South Wales will further help to encourage audiences to get back out and enjoy entertainment again post-Covid and show locals and visitors alike what no other city has on offer.

President of Just For Laughs, Bruce Hills, said “Since the first edition of Just For Laughs Sydney took place ten years ago, the festival has evolved to become a leading comedy event in the city and country - with its hub at the Sydney Opera House and shows also presented at landmark venues such as the State Theatre and Enmore Theatre. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, we are very pleased to have the support of Destination NSW to bring a host of world-class comedians to Sydney. With this new partnership, we will be able to promote the city as a major comedy destination and encourage domestic and international tourists alike to visit Sydney to see some of Australia and the world’s best comedians.”

The not-to-be-missed 10th anniversary edition of the festival will take place between 28 November and 4 December at various venues across Sydney.

Stay tuned for the full international and Australian line-up to be announced in the coming weeks!
Tickets On Sale Tuesday 4 October at 9am

Tickets available at justforlaughs.sydney

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About Just For Laughs Group
Global leader in comedy and home to the #1 Comedy Festival in the World, Just for Laughs Group has been launching and championing top comedic talent - from Kevin Hart and Nikki Glaser to Ali Wong, Hasan Minhaj and Jo Koy - for close to 40 years. Founded in 1983, the company is a vertically integrated international powerhouse in the creation of multiplatform comedic content. Every year, millions of spectators are entertained at its worldwide festivals, from Montréal – the biggest comedy event in the world – to Toronto and Vancouver, Canada; Austin, U.S.A.; London, UK; and Sydney, Australia; featuring thousands of Canadian and international comedians - from well-established artists to aspiring up-andcomers. With concentrated growth on television development and production, the Group’s digital and televised content is shown in over 150 countries, followed by an online audience of over 14 million. In addition, the Group produces touring shows, stages its own musicals, provides talent management services for Quebec artists and is the originator of the ComedyPRO and JPR Pro industry conferences together with the daytime, fan-centric, ComedyCON event. For more information, visit hahaha.com.

About Destination NSW
Destination NSW is the champion and voice for the visitor economy within the NSW Government. Spearheading a whole-of-government approach to visitor economy growth, Destination NSW is responsible for leading the delivery of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 in partnership with government and industry. Destination NSW influences and shapes the visitor economy through strategic research, policy and thought leadership, stakeholder engagement and consultation, commercial partnerships and investment in visitor experiences, business support, marketing and events. Destination NSW is also the major investor in Business Events Sydney (BESydney) for the purpose of securing more international and domestic conventions, incentive travel reward programs, corporate events and exhibitions.

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