Where to See Live Comedy in Melbourne's South-East
A local comedian's guide to catching live stand-up and musical comedy across Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, from Bentleigh and Caulfield down to the bayside and across to Knox.
If you live in Melbourne's south-east and you want a laugh on a weeknight, you do not have to schlep all the way into Fitzroy or the CBD. There is a quietly thriving live comedy scene out here, you just need to know where to look.
I run shows around this part of town myself, so this list is biased, but it is honest. These are the rooms I have either played, watched friends play, or sent mates to.
Knox Community Arts Centre, Bayswater
Easily the most underrated mid-size room east of the city. Proper raked seating, real lights, real sound, free parking out the front. Great for a touring comic or a polished local hour. If you have never been, the venue sits on Mountain Highway and is about a 15 minute drive from Glen Waverley.
I am playing here on 11 July. If you want to see what the room is like from the inside, grab a ticket and come along.
The pub circuit: Caulfield, Brighton and bayside
Plenty of pubs across the south-east run a comedy night once or twice a month. They come and go, so the trick is to follow the comics rather than the venue. Local rooms worth keeping an eye on tend to land in Caulfield, Brighton, Sandringham and Mordialloc. Tickets are usually cheap or free, the lineup is a mix of open mic and pros warming up new material, and you can grab a parma on the way in.
The Butterfly Club, South Melbourne
A short trip from the south-east but worth the mention. Tiny cabaret room, two-drink minimum, the home of Melbourne musical comedy. If you like songs that turn into jokes, this is the place. They run shows almost every night of the week.
Comedy Republic and the CBD rooms
If you are happy to drive in or train it, Comedy Republic on Bourke Street has top tier lineups most nights, and the Comic's Lounge in North Melbourne is a Friday and Saturday institution. Both are easy enough to get to from Glen Huntly station or any of the Frankston and Sandringham line stops.
Festival time: MICF in April
For three and a bit weeks every April, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival takes over the city. You can see 200+ shows in three weeks, and a chunk of them tour back out to suburban venues afterwards. If you only see live comedy once a year, do it in April. If you want to see comics you actually like in a small room, see them in October or February in the suburbs.
How to pick a show if you have never been
- Read the description. Comedians are bad at marketing but they are honest. If the blurb mentions songs, expect songs. If it mentions "observational", expect observational.
- Sit close, not in the front row. Row 3 to 5 is the sweet spot for any room under 200 seats.
- Pre-book. Suburban rooms sell out quietly. "At the door" rarely works for anything good.
- Bring a friend. Comedy is twice as fun with someone to elbow.
Coming up
If you want to start with a musical comedy show in your own backyard, my next Melbourne show is on the tour dates page. There is parking, the seats are comfy and I promise to make it worth the drive. Directions and public transport info are on the venue page.
See you in the dark.