I have a workmate who is a moonlighter like me, on a constant mission to explore our creative passions whilst we are not busy at our day jobs. I’m the Lifestyle Blogger, he’s the Stand Up Comedian. Suren Jayemanne is a comedian and a rising star. Articulate, punchy and sharp – if there were only three words to describe him. I was lucky enough to see Suren in action at our workplace’s trivia night where Suren was host for the evening. He guaranteed the crowd a night filled with laughter. I recommend you go and see his show at the Sydney Fringe Comedy festival, Eat Praline, Die. Dates and time to see Suren are: Wed 24th Sep 2014 – 6:45 pm or Fri 26th Sep 2014 – 6:45pm at The Factory Theatre. Suren was handpicked as one of five comedians in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s prestigious Comedy Zone – a showcase of the best emerging comics from around Australia.
Do you like the Qantas choir? Suren shared this hilarious clip, ‘Mums vs Dads’ on Twitter (@JayEManne) with me the other day. Lol! Check it out!
Sydney Fringe Comedy (as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival) is back for another year showcasing some of Australia’s amazing talent who have the gift of making you laugh. It has unveiled its biggest program to date for 2014, with more than 100 of Sydney’s best new and alternative comedians stepping up to the mic over 4 weeks from 10 September to 5 October.
Presented as part of The Sydney Fringe festival, Sydney Fringe Comedy is your chance to check out the most promising new talent, see established comedians trial new material, and watch the best alternative comics explore the frontiers of funny.The Factory Theatre in Marrickville, home of Sydney Fringe Comedy, will be transformed into a comedy enthusiast’s dream, with five venues hosting a diverse program of shows each night, plus food, drinks and music to keep patrons entertained before and after the laughs.
If you haven’t seen any of them before, who should you go and see? I checked in with Ray Badran this time, a seasoned comedian, and familiar with who’s who in the zoo when it comes to giving you a good belly laugh.
I follow Ray on Twitter @RayBadran and learnt something I haven’t thought of before. Ray tweeted his recommendations of wine matches with your McDonald meals, perhaps as a pre-event dinner suggestion. Ray recommends you try the following combos:
Big Mac – Shiraz
Quarter Pounder – Cabernet
McFeast – Sangiovese
Cheeseburger – Pinot
FilletOFish – Chardonnay
McChicken – Sauvignon Blanc
Ray Badran will have his own show at the Sydney Fringe Comedy festival, Just Hold My Beer Whilst I… See the Sydney Fringe Comedy website for show times.
Ray’s picks to see at the Sydney Fringe Comedy to be held at The Factory Theatre in Marrickville are:
#1 Aaron Chen – CHEN OUT OF CHEN
Winner of Class Clowns and NSW Raw Comedy. Hand-picked for Comedy Zone in 2014. Aaron Chen has got 1 hour of stuff to show at you. It is a show filled with your laughter and his anxiety (mostly social). It is the most perfect show. Chen out of Chen. Chen out of Chen. Chen out of Chen. It is a stand up.
Venue, Date & Time
Thu 25th Sep 2014 – 6:45 pm | Sat 27th Sep 2014 – 6:45 pm | Sun 28th Sep 2014 – 5:45 pm
Show Duration: 60mins
Ticket Price Range: $10.00 – $15.00
#2 Daniel Townes – CRASH AND BURN
Daniel Townes is back with an all new show that is totally experimental, some of it will be absolutely amazing and some of it will fail spectacularly. Come and see one of Australia’s favourite underground comedians fall flat on his face at least a few times in an hour.
Venue, Date & Time
Thu 18th Sep 2014 – 8:15 pm | Sat 20th Sep 2014 – 8:15 pm | Sun 21st Sep 2014 – 7:15 pm
Show Duration: 50mins
Ticket Price Range: $10.00 – $15.00
#3 Shane Matheson – SHANE TALENT TIME
Shane Talent Time features song and stand up presented in an 80s variety show set up. A different special guest is featured each night, plus the beforementioned dog who can drive a bus.
Venue, Date & Time
Wed 1st Oct 2014 – 9:15 pm | Fri 3rd Oct 2014 – 9:15 pm
Show Duration: 50mins
Ticket Price Range: $15.00
#4 Dave Williams – DAKOTA DICK RETURNS
Dakota Dick’s popularity has given rise to a second instalment with an all new adventure with the original cast of David Williams, Cameron Knight & Susie Youssef.
Venue, Date & Time
Wed 10th Sep 2014 – 9:15 pm | Fri 12th Sep 2014 – 9:15 pm
Show Duration: 60mins
Ticket Price Range: $15.00 – $17.50
#5 Michael Workman – WORK IN PROGRESS
A fable spinner with a captivating imagination, Michael creates unexpected worlds, rich characters and many, many laughs. This is a chance to see his latest creation starting to take shape
Venue, Date & Time
Thu 2nd Oct 2014 – 8:15 pm
Fri 3rd Oct 2014 – 8:15 pm | Sat 4th Oct 2014 – 8:15 pm
Show Duration 60mins
Ticket Price Range $20.00
#6 Genevieve Fricker – TRYING
Comedian Genevieve Fricker (triple j, Spicks and Specks) will play some songs and tell some jokes on and around a stage, in a concerted effort to produce a new show for next year’s festival season.
Venue, Date & Time
Wed 10th Sep 2014 – 8:15 pm | Wed 24th Sep 2014 – 6:45 pm | Fri 26th Sep 2014 – 6:45 pm
Show Duration: 50mins
Ticket Price Range: $10.00 – $15.00
#7 Rhys Nicholson – WORK IN PROGRESS SHOW: NO REFUNDS
Message from Rhys:
Hello friends! It’s me, your ol’ pal Rhys.
It’s that time of year again. I am contractually obliged to perform a new show. To be honest, I’m writing this months before you are reading it. I haven’t written a single word of this show yet. Worst comes to worst it’ll just be me, half dressed, having a cry on stage. COME ALONG!Regards, Mama Showbusiness, Rhys Nicholson
Venue, Date & Time
Wed 24th Sep 2014 – 8:15 pm
Thu 25th Sep 2014 – 8:15 pm | Fri 26th Sep 2014 – 8:15 pm | Sat 27th Sep 2014 – 8:15 pm
Show Duration: 50mins
Ticket Price Range: $10.00 – $15.00
#8 Tien Tran – THE I$H
Tien Tran comes back to trial another biting hour of social commentary about race, sex and other absurdities.
Venue, Date & Time
Wed 24th Sep 2014 – 8:00 pm
Thu 25th Sep 2014 – 8:00 pm
Fri 26th Sep 2014 – 8:00 pm
Sat 27th Sep 2014 – 8:00 pm
Sun 28th Sep 2014 – 7:00 pm
Show Duration 50mins
Ticket Price Range $10.00 – $15.00
#9 Sam Campbell – CAMBO’S ON TOP
After a year touring Australia (Brisbane and Perth) funny-boy Sambo Cambo is ready to debut an ice-hot new show full of off-beat stand-up and some nice videos. Sam is a member of the youtube collective Skills in Time and star of the web-series Dayne’s World. His live show will be fast-paced and crazy. Check it out if you are an axolotl-lover, a dole-bludger or a perfect babe. The prophecy is true.
Venue, Date & Time
Wed 17th Sep 2014 – 8:00 pm
Thu 18th Sep 2014 – 8:00 pm
Fri 19th Sep 2014 – 8:00 pm
Sat 20th Sep 2014 – 8:00 pm
Sun 21st Sep 2014 – 7:00 pm
Show Duration: 60mins
Ticket Price Range: $10.00 – $15.00
#10 Tom Ballard – TAXIS & RAINBOWS & HATRED
A brand new hour from the young so-and-so Wil Anderson describes as “one of the most original, fearless and hilarious voices in Australian comedy.”
Venue, Date & Time
Thu 2nd Oct 2014 – 7:00 pm
Fri 3rd Oct 2014 – 7:00 pm
Sat 4th Oct 2014 – 7:00 pm
Show Duration: 60mins
Ticket Price Range: $25.00