Australia is entering a long and hilarious Raw-cession as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Raw Comedy competition has undiscovered comic geniuses across the country road-testing their punchlines on unsuspecting family members, friends and passers-by.

Raw Comedy is Australia’s largest and most prestigious open mic comedy competition, with 59 gigs announced in every capital city and major regional centres across the country. Five minutes of new, original comedy material is all it takes to enter Raw Comedy - stand-up, sketch, double and triple acts, musical comedy are all welcome.

Lucky jokesters successful in their heats will progress through a series of semi and state finals, before slugging it out at the National Grand Final at the 2009 Melbourne International Comedy Festival on 19 April.

The National Grand Champ wins a trip to the Edinburgh Fringe. Five minutes of new, original comedy material is all it takes to enter Raw Comedy - stand-up, sketch, double and triple acts, musical comedy are all welcome.

National Heats are as follows:

VIC:
Melbourne Qualifying Heats

 Sat 10 January, 1:00pm @THE EVELYN HOTEL – 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
 Sat 17 January, 1:00pm @RETREAT HOTEL – 280 Sydney Road, Brunswick
 Sat 24 January, 1:00pm @ESPLANADE HOTEL – 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
Sat 31 January, 1:00pm @CORNER HOTEL – 57 Swan Street, Richmond
Melbourne Super Heats

@ THE EVELYN HOTEL – 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
 Tue 24 February, 7:30pm
 Tue 3 March, 7:30pm
 Tue 10 March, 7:30pm
 Tue 17 March, 7:30pm
Geelong Heat
@GEELONG PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE - 50 Lt Malop St, Geelong
 Fri 7 February, 8:00pm
Victorian State Final:
 Tue 24 March, 7:30pm @THE EVELYN HOTEL – 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

NSW/ACT:
Sydney Heats

@COMEDY STORE, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
 Heat #1 – Mon 12 January, 8:30pm
 Heat #2 – Mon 19 January, 8:30pm
 Heat #3 – Mon 26 January, 8:30pm
 Heat #4 – Mon 2 February, 8:30pm
 Heat #5 – Mon 9 February, 8:30pm
 Heat #6 – Mon 16 February, 8:30pm
 Heat #7 – Mon 23 February, 8:30pm
 Heat #8 – Mon 2 March, 8:30pm

Canberra Heat
@Tilley’s Café Devine – corner Wattle & Brigalow Streets, Lyneham
 Sat 28 February, 8:00pm

Wollongong Heat
@IPAC – 32 Burelli Street, Wollongong
 Tue 17 February, 8:00pm

Newcastle Heat
@Playhouse, Civic Theatre - 375 Hunter Street
 Sat 14 March, Time TBC

NSW/ACT State Finals:
@ COMEDY STORE, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
 Semi Final #1 – Mon 9 March, 8:30pm
 Semi Final #2 – Mon 16 March, 8:30pm
 STATE FINAL – Mon 23 March, 8:30pm

SA:
Adelaide Heats

@RHINO ROOM – 13 Frome Street, Adelaide
 Thu 15 January, 8:00pm
 Thu 22 January, 8:00pm
 Thu 29 January, 8:00pm
 Thu 5 February, 8:00pm
 Thu 12 February, 8:00pm
Adelaide Semi Finals

@PJ O’BRIENS – 14 East Terrace, Adelaide
 SEMI #1 – Tue 3 March, 9:00pm
 SEMI #2 – Tue 10 March, 9:00pm
South Australian State Final:
 Mon 16 March, 8:00pm @THE HIGHWAY – 290 Anzac Highway, Plympton

QLD
Brisbane Heats

@SIT DOWN COMEDY CLUB – Paddington Tavern, 168 Givern Terrace, Paddington
 Heat #1 – Wednesday 28 January, 8:00pm
 Heat #2 – Wednesday 4 February, 8:00pm
 Heat #3 – Wednesday 11 February, 8:00pm
 Heat #4 – Wednesday 18 February, 8:00pm
 Heat #5 – Wednesday 25 February, 8:00pm
 Heat #6 – Wednesday 4 March, 8:00pm

Byron Bay Heats (Yes, we know Byron’s in NSW, but winners of Byron heats head to QLD semi-finals)
@Pandanus Lounge – Byron Services Club, Jonson Street, Byron Bay
 Heat #1 – Monday 16 February, 8:00pm
 Heat #2 – Monday 2 March, time 8:00pm

QLD State Finals:
@SIT DOWN COMEDY CLUB – Paddington Tavern, 168 Givern Terrace, Paddington
 Semi Final #1 – Wednesday 11 March, 8:00pm
 Semi Final #2 – Wednesday 18 March, 8:00pm
 QLD STATE FINAL – Wednesday 25 March, 8:00pm

WA:
Perth Heats

@COMEDY LOUNGE, Charles Hotel – 509 Charles Street, North Perth
 Heat #1 - Thu 8 January, 8:00pm
 Heat #2 - Thu 15 January, 8:00pm
 Heat #3 - Thu 22 January, 8:00pm
 Heat #4 - Thu 29 January, 8:00pm
 Heat #5 - Thu 5 February, 8:00pm
 Heat #6 - Thu 12 February, 8:00pm
 Heat #7 - Thu 19 February, 8:00pm
 Heat #8 - Thu 26 February, 8:00pm
Perth Semi Finals

@COMEDY LOUNGE, Charles Hotel – 509 Charles Street, North Perth
 SEMI #1 – Thu 5 March, 8:00pm
 SEMI #2 – Thu 12 March, 8:00pm
West Australian State Final:
 Sat 21 March, 8:00pm @PERTH CONCERT HALL – 5 St George’s Terrace, Perth

TAS:
Launceston
@ UNI BAR – University of Tasmania Launceston Campus, Newnham
 Heat – Thu 5 March, doors open at 7:00pm with 7:30pm start
Hobart
@UNI BAR – University of Tasmania Hobart Campus, Sandy Bay
 Heat – Thu 12 March, doors open at 7:00pm with 7:30pm start
NT:
Darwin
@DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE – 93 Mitchell Street, Darwin
 Heat – Fri 20 February, 8:00pm

NATIONAL GRAND FINAL:
@Melbourne Town Hall as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
 Sunday 19 April, 5:00pm
Registrations are open and close when the heats are filled. Visit www.rawcomedy.com.au to enter. Details of MCs and other information can also be found on the website.

Not funny yourself, but keen for a laugh? Come and be an audience member! Contact venues for ticketing information.

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Tags: Raw Comedy 2009