If you’ve attended the Sydney Comedy Festival before, you know that it’s a lot of fun. If not, here are some tips to get the most laughs and really enjoy your Festival experience at The Joan:

1. Know Your Comedy: From sharp observational commentary to physical slap-stick – you know what gets you laughing!  The good news is, The Joan has an amazing range of funny on offer and you’re bound to find more than one show that matches your taste. The Sydney Comedy Festival Gala is the perfect smorgasbord of comedy to whet your appetite for the rest of the week. Things will get politically incorrect with the dry wit of Luke Heggie, hilariously physical with The Umbilical Brothers and oh-so relatable with Neel Kolhatkar and Danny Bhoy . If you love political satire, then Gladys – A Musical Affair will strike the right chord. Larger than life comedy characters such as Heath Franklin’s Chopper, Pauly Fenech, and Mary Coustas’ Effie are always good for a stab at social niceties. In the end, you can’t go too wrong with comedians  from your favourite TV shows,  Melanie Bracewell (The Cheap Seats and Thank God You’re Here),  Nazeem Hussain (I’m A Celebrity, Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee and Role of A Lifetime),  Rhys Nicholson (The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, Drag Race Downunder and Taskmaster Australia) and Broden Kelly (Aunty Donna, Fisk and Colin From Accounts).

2. Explore Different Acts: Comedy festivals often feature a mix of well-known international and national comedians alongside some amazing up-and-coming talent. See the celebration of Māori and Pacific Island comedy in Pasifika Hysterica and Australia’s funniest upcoming Asian-Australian comedians in Succulent Comedy Showcase, and discover some new favourites from the local comedy scene here in Penrith and the Blue Mountains, including Marty Bright’s Hip Hop Ha Ha, Esky Escandor and Ian Mu’s Am I the One?, Amiga Mia’s ¡Que Funny! and the Western Sydney Comedy Showcase. Online sensations Christine Abadir and The Cheatcoders will round out the local fun, bringing their cheeky cultural observations live to the stage.

3. Buy in Advance: The Joan’s Box Office will be open on the night for spontaneous purchases and there will also be QR codes around the venue if you want to book a fast ticket online. However, popular shows can sell out quickly, so it’s a good idea to get your tickets ahead of time. Check out the The Joan’s website for ticket information and access to group prices and watch your inbox for ticket deals on shows playing on the same night.

4. Arrive Early: Arriving early gives you time to find the performance venue and settle in without feeling rushed. The Joan’s Borland and Atrium Bars will be open from 5.30pm with a premium selection of drinks and other delicious delights to get you in the mood for a laugh. If you want to grab dinner before the show, we recommend booking a table at one of these Penrith restaurants.

5. Plan and Schedule: There are 21 shows playing between 27th April and 3rd May at The Joan, sometimes 4 or 6 in one night! It’s helpful to plan which shows you want to see and where they are located, so you can get easily from one Joan venue to the next and grab a drink along the way from one of our bars! Download our interactive Festival Schedule below to really maximise your comedy exposure!