Annual Sydney Comedy Festival Returning in 2016

Its back! The Sydney Comedy Festival returns in 2016 with a laugh-a-minute 27-day program of back-to-back silliness, foolishness and buckets of absurdity.

Presented by Coopers Pale Ale and the Comedy Channel, the 12th Annual Sydney Comedy Festival will be presented in all the usual places, and for the first time, will unleash a program at the spectacular Sydney Town Hall.

Supported by the City of Sydney and programmed by Artistic Director Olivia Ansell, the Festival's Sydney Town Hall incursion will include feature shows by UK comic superstar Ross Noble, a jam-packed line up of comedians from around the globe and a free* children's program, Comedy for Kids! in the Lower Town Hall.

Transformed into a 'Jungle', Lower Town Hall will delight audiences aged two to 12 years with a swathe of adventurous activities including interactive play stations, storytelling, live stage shows by some of the world's funniest comedians and circus acts, as well as workshops in illustration, Theatresports and street dance.

By night, the Jungle will lose its PG rating and transform into a mischievous Late Night Club, presenting internationally revered comics alongside an array of local cabaret, comedy and musical acts.

Returning in 2016 will be the Festival's special events including the ever-popular Cracker Night at the Enmore, Concourse and Riverside Theatres, and the Festival Gala held at the Sydney Opera House and for the first time at the Sydney Town Hall on 26 April.

'If you're not sure what to see at the Festival, be quick to grab a ticket to one of the Festival's specials.' encourages Festival Director Jorge Menidis. 'The specials are a series of showcase type shows that offer a snapshot of an array of artists in one brilliantly hilarious bill.'

Along with the aforementioned Ross Noble, the Festival is announcing return seasons for international stars; David O'Doherty (IRL), Stephen K Amos (UK), Daniel Sloss (SCO) and Tommy Tiernan (IRL), and debuts for Brian Posehn (USA), Andrew Maxwell (IRL) and the multi award winning Korean act, the Ongals.

Australian comedy legends already confirmed include Jim Jefferies, Dave Hughes, Kitty Flanagan, Tom Gleeson, Felicity Ward, Sammy J & Randy, the Umbilical Brothers, Matt Okine, Em Rusciano, Tripod, Nazeem Hussain, Alex Williamson, Aunty Donna, Joel Creasey, Steve Hughes, Nick Cody, Rhys Nicholson, Lawrence Mooney, Dave Thornton, Tommy Little, Akmal, Susie Youssef, Heath Franklin's Chopper, Trash Test Dummies and the legendary Doug Anthony All Stars.

The full 2016 Sydney Comedy Festival program will be announced in March 2016.

What: The 12th Annual Sydney Comedy Festival

When: 18 April until 15 May 2016

Where: Festival venues include: Enmore Theatre, The Factory Theatre, The Concourse, Riverside Theatres, The Comedy Store, Giant Dwarf, Sydney Town Hall, Sydney Opera House and the Hayden Orpheum.

Web: www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au

Tickets: Tickets can be purchased via the website or the Box Office: 02 9020 6966. Full program announced in March 2016.

*Access to 'Comedy For Kids!' is free but each ticket incurs a $2.50 booking fee that will be donated in full to Sydney Story Factory - a not-for-profit creative learning centre that champions literacy, reading and writing skills for young people from marginalised backgrounds.