Funny Fringe

Festival organiser and Comedy Manager Shane Smith knows what it takes to make a splash at Fringe. “It has to be something original; something that catches you off-guard. It can be a really mundane topic that you don’t think you’re going to laugh at and then all of a sudden you’re laughing, and you can’t stop.”

This year Fringe boasts its biggest program ever with 100 comedians playing more than 300 shows. It will transform the Factory Theatre into an almost unrecognisable structure for four weeks beginning 10 Sep and finishing up on 5 Oct.

Stalwarts like David Williams, who becomes the communist-fighting, bald-eagle-farting Dakota Dick, will stand up alongside newbies like Carlo Ritchie and Corey White, who make their debut stand-up performances Wanking At Strangers and Life Is Like Lego respectively. It’s all about variety, folks.
This year’s program also features YouTube sensations Sam Campbell, star of the online series Dayne’s World, and Ben ‘Frenchy’ French who has amassed more than one million views for his various videos including Excuses Guys Use To Leave After Sex and Shit You’ll Never Hear In Wollongong.

Smith says an online presence can’t hurt your chances of finding yourself on the Fringe Comedy line-up, but it’s not a requirement. “We take it into account but we also talk to people in the industry about up-and-comers, plus we have an application process where we send applicants some questions and pick the right fits from there. There are plenty of ways to get involved.

“The Factory Theatre is a great venue for it. We’ve had it here for a few years now. There will be five separate rooms with five performances happening at one time, in between there is food and drink and music, so for about $10-$15 a ticket you definitely get your money’s worth.”