City to get a taste of Australian humour

Over the next two days, Mumbaiites will get a chance to see six stand-up comics, from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), perform MICF, one of the largest annual comedy festivals in the world, organises ‘Roadshows’ throughout the year – tours around the world featuring its various comedians.

Over the next two days, Mumbaiites will get a chance to see six stand-up comics, from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), perform MICF, one of the largest annual comedy festivals in the world, organises ‘Roadshows’ throughout the year – tours around the world featuring its various comedians. This year, the Roadshow will tour India between November 1 and 7, travelling to Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Delhi. The India tour is a part of Oz Fest, an on-going festival of Indo-Australian culture.

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The comic artistes staging their acts in Mumbai are Matt Okine, Harley Breen, Dave Callan, Cal Wilson and Smart Casual – a duo comprising comedians Roger David and Fletcher Jones.

Besides performing at Blue Frog in Lower Parel on November 1 and 2, the MICF Roadshow will also conduct auditions for RAW Comedy, an open mic competition for Indian stand-up comics on October 31 at Soul Fry Casa in Fort, and the winner of the finals – to be held in Delhi on November 7 – will travel to Australia for MICF 2013. “Our first Roadshow visit to India will be an amazing opportunity to share our work with Indian audiences and explore the vibrant and developing Indian comedy scene,” said Susan Provan, director of the festival. The Australian comedians, meanwhile, are looking forward to experiencing Indian culture and incorporating it in their acts. Comedian Dave Callan hopes to draw inspiration from the people he will meet in Mumbai. “I will also be adapting some of my set to perform some Bollywood dances,” said Callan. “Comedy unites people and breaks down barriers,” adds Callan.