I have been going to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for more than 20 years, so I know how hard it can be to pick the perfect show to attend.

So, I thought I would put a guide together on who to see at this year’s Canberra Comedy Festival.

The festival runs from 12-23 March across various venues.

One of the things I do to decide which show to go to, which may help you, is to trawl through the festival’s website or a printed guide (if there is one available) and circle the ones you are interested in.

Then I use a process of elimination until I hit the number of shows I want to go to.

If you are thinking of heading to an event with someone else, it is always a good idea to get the other people to pitch in as well.

Some of the things I use to choose include removing anyone I have seen before – whether that’s a solo show or gala type thing – then removing those I think I would enjoy the least or could see when they have their own tour or take part in another festival.

The comedians I have loved watching on television who are coming to Canberra include Melanie Bracewell, Jenny Tian, Lizzy Hoo, Claire Hopper and Luke McGregor.

Bracewell, a New Zealand native, is hilarious to watch on comedy panel television show The Cheap Seats, alongside fellow comedian Tim McDonald.

Tian was my favourite person to watch on Season 2 of Australian Taskmaster, a show where participants complete fun tasks, with a winner crowned at the end of the season.  She also posts funny videos on her social media channels.

McGregor has featured in many shows on television, including season 1 of Australian Taskmaster, with my favourite being Rosehaven,which he features in alongside fellow comedian Celia Pacquola: The pair are best friends and work for Luke’s character’s mother’s real estate agency in Tasmania.

Other comedians I have seen live and would recommend are Kirsty Webeck (I saw her perform in 2023), Sean Choolburra (Indigenous comedy) and Emma Holland (who also regularly appears on television).

A stand-up I haven’t seen but is on my radar is Michelle Brasier, an actor, singer, comedian and screenwriter best known for her work with sketch group, Aunty Donna.

She has also done a show based on losing her father and brother and being told she had a 97 per cent chance of getting cancer.

Another person I’m interested in seeing is radio personality, satirist, documentary maker and author John Safran, whose show centres on squatting in one of Kanye West’s mansions – yes, you read that right!

There’s also A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Sh!t-faced Shakespeare, where the performers get drunk before stepping onto the stage.

If you’re looking to check out local comedians, several Canberrans are taking to the stage, including Nick Starkey and Charlotte Kuruc’s The Marketplace of Bad Ideas, Chris Ryan’s Extreme Tenant, Stell Muses, seany boy and Nathan Hillman’s The Unholy Trinity of Music, Death and Politics, Holly Hazlewood and Chris Knight’s TransFat and Laura Johnston’s 3am Thoughts.

You can check out the full program at canberracomedyfestival.com.au

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