Squeaky Clean Comedy opens at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival April 8.
GETTING down and dirty isn’t the only way to win a few laughs, and a group of comedians are all out to prove it actually takes more wit to be clean and funny.
After a successful run at Chapel off Chapel in 2008, Squeaky Clean Comedy will be making an appearance at the upcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and will be the only overtly clean show among the more than 300 stand-ups lined up for for the festival.
Presented by Candlelight Productions, a not-for-profit arts production company specialising in community development, the show promises a “non-crass formula” delivered by internationally renown comedians Dave Wiggins, Michael Connell, Jason Pestell, Mike Klimczak, Magesh Magesh, Phil Andrews, Lach Ryan, Cam Semmens, Michael Tancredi, Beau Stegmann and Luke Holt.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1dvChv0ObE[/youtube]
They promise to be legitimately funny without being lewd or rude. That means no filthy language or gratuitous shock tactics.
The company’s executive director Eugene Wong said there was a growing appetite for clean comedy.
“It’s really starting out. It’s the second time we’ve done it,” he said.
“We’re creating a safe option for those who want to watch the [comedy] shows. It’s quite clear there’s the demand for ‘the clean stuff’. This just hasn’t been catered for previously.”
He said the company has been focusing its efforts on “producing really goody work that builds up the community and raises up new artists who will make an impact on our culture.”
“If we want to be… responsible about what we feed into ourselves, we need to be more discerning about what we’re willing to watch,” he said.
“Next year, we’re really looking forward to see [clean comedy] growing bigger. Over the next years, it will become more and more normal and people will expect there to be more clean options.”
Profits from every ticket sold goes towards funding a month's supply of clean water to someone in the third world through Melbourne-based charity Thankyou Water.
Tickets are priced at $25 (full fare), $20 (concession), $20 (group of 8 or more) and $30 (VIP) – and there’s a socially-conscious aspect to it too.
For every ticket sold, the company is committed to funding a month’s supply of clean water to someone in the third world through Melbourne-based charity Thankyou Water.
Squeaky Clean Comedy will be playing at the Melbourne City Conference Centre, 333 Swanston St (opposite the State Library) on April 8, 15 and 23. Shows start at 7:30pm and run for 140 minutes. More details on the Candlelight Productions website.
Candlelight Productions are giving Meld readers the chance to win one of three double passes to the opening night of Squeaky Clean Comedy (Friday April 8). To enter, email your contact details to info@candlelightproductions.com.au by 5pm Wednesday April 6. Remember to put “Meld Magazine” as the email subject. Winners will be notified by email.