Media Release

On the back of last year’s successful program, the comedic shananagans of Footscray Laughs returns with Footscray Community Arts bringing together the nation’s finest comedians for a jam-packed series of non-stop laughter.  Footscray Laughs kicks off  on Friday 10 March with five seriously funny comedians hitting the The Performance Space stage.

Multi-award winning comedian and broadcaster, Sami Shah (ABC Radio Melbourne, New York Times) hosts the evening’s hilarity with MICF Gala performer Jude Perl headlining and Suren Jayemanne (SBS, Comedy Up Late), Sashi Perera, Con Coutis and Christina Schmidt bringing back to back laughs.

Host Sami Shah is a comedian, writer, journalist and broadcaster who won the Best Local Act at the Perth International Comedy Festival, and Best Comedy at Fringe World. He’s performed multiple sold-out runs at comedy festivals across Australia, as well as in London’s Soho Theatre, released multiple stand-up comedy albums, and appeared on QI with Stephen Fry.

Melbourne-based singer, songwriter and comedian Jude Perl has created a name for herself by writing and performing hilarious, yet brutally honest, stream-of-consciousness style lyrics, set to undeniably catchy and well-crafted songs.

Comedian, writer and recovering lawyer Sashi Perera was featured on the UK Funny Women Awards ‘Ones to Watch’ List (2021) and sold out past group shows (An Inconvenient Comedy Show, Breast of the Fest, Good Ghouls). Her solo show ‘Endings’ will debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023 and she’s just gone viral racking up 3 million views on TikTok!

Comedian, writer, actor and former tax accountant, Suren Jayemanne received a coveted MICF Moosehead Recipient for 2023 and is currently writing a show about God called The Bag of Vegeta. Suren’s stand up special featured on ABC’s Comedy Next Gen (2018) and he has appeared on Comedy Up Late (ABC), Australia Talks (ABC), The Cook Up (SBS) and Celebrity Letters & Numbers (SBS). He is also a writer for Wil Anderson’s Question Everything (ABC) and, if you look hard enough, can be seen somewhere in the background during Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder!

Con Coutis was a state finalist in last year’s Triple J’s RAW comedy competition and debuted his solo show at MICF in 2022 to sold out crowds and glowing reviews. He successfully toured to the Sydney Fringe and Melbourne Fringe Festivals and has performed at the Adelaide Fringe and at Brisbane’s Good Chat Comedy Club.

Christina Schmidt is a stand-up comedian from Melbourne who’s been described as “delightfully awkward”. She was a 2022 Victorian RAW state finalist and part of the hit lineup Melbourne International Comedy Festival show Breast of the Fest. Christina has established herself as an exciting up and coming comedian, performing regularly across Melbourne.

The community focussed event will also offer drinks and dinner packs from renowned Persian restaurant, Salamatea Café,  with café owner and chef, Hamed Allahyari, creating a selection of authentic menu options to accompany the smorgasbord of laughs on offer.

Footscray Laughs is a great opportunity to check out local talent before these comics embark on national tours including shows at the upcoming Melbourne Comedy Festival in March/April.   In keeping with the Footscray Community Arts’ commitment to accessibility, the event will be Auslan interpreted for members of the hearing impaired and deaf community.

Stand by for the more Footscray Laughs shows later in the year. Details will be announced soon.

Find out more: Footscray Laughs

Footscray Laughs

Friday 10 March 8pm at Performance Space

Footscray Community Arts 45 Moreland St, Footscray VIC 3011

03 9362 8888  Tickets $25-$54 (including meal)

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Michaela Hall  – 0419 113 633 / michaela.hall@bigpond.com