![Melbourne venue Comedy Republic hosting shows throughout the three and a half week festival. Picture Anna Houlahan Melbourne venue Comedy Republic hosting shows throughout the three and a half week festival. Picture Anna Houlahan](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/194363481/10f377be-453d-4829-bf86-8134f481038c.png/r0_0_1596_850_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Down Melbourne's narrow alleyways are poky bars and venues hosting stand-up royalty as part of the largest comedy festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
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The city swells with excitement from March 27 to April 21 as eagle-eyed fans spot Arj Barker on the tram or David O'Doherty spruiking his shows.
"The Melbourne Comedy Festival is my favourite comedy festival in the world - it's my favourite audience to play in the world - and I'm so excited to be back," comedian Celia Pacquola said.
The 2024 festival has a bumper program featuring more than 800 performers across 650 shows during the three and a half week run.
Comedy-lovers have a buffet of stand-up, cabaret, circus and physical theatre shows to watch ranging from seasoned professionals to doe-eyed amateurs.
![Posters advertising comedy shows cover the city during the annual festival. Picture Anna Houlahan Posters advertising comedy shows cover the city during the annual festival. Picture Anna Houlahan](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/194363481/6717951c-7efb-49d4-8385-4146d99ec365.jpg/r0_67_720_472_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The broad selection means there's likely something for everyone's taste and budget.
Fresh faces from British television
New-comers from the vibrant British comedy scene joined the festival line-up with their show New Order running until April 21 at Melbourne Town Hall's Powder Room.
New Order showcases beloved up-and-coming comedians Josh Jones, Celya AB and Dan Tiernan as they launch their careers beyond shows such as Jimmy Carr's 8 Out of 10 Cats, QI and Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club.
![Josh Jones (left), Celya AB (centre) and Dan Tiernan (right). Pictures Instagram Josh Jones (left), Celya AB (centre) and Dan Tiernan (right). Pictures Instagram](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/194363481/d68017e3-4b91-480e-93ab-0c4fbce919e4.png/r0_0_1600_900_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The trio take turns on the microphone as they needle the audience with taunts and ad-libbed banter as well as delivering their tight 20 minutes of comedy each.
See something new
For those keen to break free of the normal constraints of stand-up, there are experimental and adventurous comedians pushing boundaries at Melbourne's annual festival.
Lucy Henderson is performing her Comedy Cluedo at Bard's Apothecary on one of the city's many bar-filled laneways.
![Lucy Henderson performs her Comedy Cluedo. Picture Instagram Lucy Henderson performs her Comedy Cluedo. Picture Instagram](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/194363481/31d1f6bc-b770-415d-a195-7f87b14e46c7.png/r0_0_1600_900_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
She invites "detectives" from the audience to ask about her life in order to solve the mystery - who killed Lucy Henderson?
Tickets to all shows are available through the Melbourne Comedy Festival website.