Time is running out to join the fun at Sydney’s biggest celebration of comedy at it enters its last week. To help you decide what to book, we’ve selected the best shows on during the last week of the Sydney Comedy Festival.
We’ve seen it all during the past three weeks: epic gala nights, drunken performances of Shakespeare, musical renditions and the inaugural Comedy Crawl. The 20th anniversary celebrations of the Sydney Comedy Festival have brought the city alive with laughter and there are just a few more days left to catch a show. Time flies when you’re having fun.
If you’re yet to make it to a show, take your pick from our selection of the best shows on at the Sydney Comedy Festival this week. Whether you’re visiting with kids, history buffs looking for a laugh or heading out for girls’ night, there’s something for everyone.
READ MORE: What we thought of the inaugural Sydney Comedy Festival Comedy Crawl
1. Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase 2025
A top-secret lineup of this year’s comedians will appear in this bumper showcase performance, at venues across the city all through the week. Hayden Orpheum Cremorne is first on Tuesday, followed by Bondi Pavilion (Wednesday, May 14) and three nights at The Comedy Store in The Entertainment Quarter (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Household names will perform alongside the next generation of superstars. They’re each a massive night of entertainment that’ll leave you in stitches.
Hayden Orpheum: Tuesday, May 13 at 8pm; General Admission $45.
Bondi Pavilion: Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30pm and 8:30pm; General admission $45.
The Comedy Store: Thursday, May 15 at 8:30pm ($40); Friday, May 16 at 9:40pm ($55); Saturday, May 17 at 9:40pm ($55).
2. End of Festival Gala
The Festival’s 20th birthday comes to a dazzling close on Sunday and a carefully curated roster of the world’s finest comedians will come out to celebrate. Hosted at the Enmore Theatre, this is your ticket to the last laugh at this year’s Comedy Festival.
When: Sydney, May 18 at 7:30pm.
Where: Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown NSW 2042.
Price: From $59.90 per person.
3. Kids & Family Day
Put the babysitter on hold, this one’s for the whole family. Musical bingo, roving comedy, face painting, a scavenger hunt and a program of hilarious shows to choose from—and it’s all free! The Family Day brings together the best of the clean sets together in one place. Have a clown in your midst? Enter them in the kinds comedy comp, open to all budding comedians from 5-15 years old. Starting with a workshop with a real stand-up comedian, they’ll then compete in the Grand Final to win prizes.
When: Saturday, May 17 at 11am.
Where: Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204.
Price: Free.
4. Best of the Fest: PG Edition & International
There are three iterations of the Best of the Fest this week, each showcasing—you guessed it—the best of the fest. No surprises there. Factory Theatre will host five evenings with a surprise line-up of local stars (May 14-17 at 6:30pm and May 18 at 5:30pm). Also at Factory Theatre, Saturday will see the Sydney Comedy Festival’s top comedians will perform their best PG punchlines. It’s guaranteed laughs for all ages, from the kids to the grandparents. Finishing the trio, Best of the Fest International will assemble the cream of the crop global talents at Bondi Pavilion.
Best of the Fest: Factory Theatre – Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30pm; Thursday, May 15 at 6:30pm; Friday, May 16 at 6:30pm; Saturday, May 17 at 6:30pm and Sunday, May 18 at 5:30pm. All $32.50.
Best of the Fest – PG Edition: Factory Theatre – Saturday, 17 May at 2:30pm. Adult $30, junior $25, family $100 (2 adults + 2 children).
Best of the Fest – International: Bondi Pavilion – Thursday, May 15 at 6pm; Friday, May 16 at 6pm; Saturday, May 17 at 6pm and Sunday, May 18 at 5pm. All $35 per person.
READ MORE: Review: Sydney Comedy Festival Gala Night – Laugh? I could have died…
5. Sydney True Crime Walking Tour
Step into Sydney’s chilling past and learn about the city’s historic underbelly, with mystery and murder combining with side-splitting laughs. Dave Crisante, your guide for the night, previously worked on international kidnapping cases before turning his hand to comedy. He’ll lead you on a tour of the Harbour City’s historical crimes, weaving his knowledge of hostage situations, sniper nests and government mysteries into the mix. True crime and comedy in one hit? We’re there.
When: Wednesday, May 14 at 7pm.
Where: Meet at the entrance of Museum Station at the corner of Liverpool St and Elizabeth St, near Hyde Park.
Price: Adult $32, child $28, concession $20 per person.
6. Phantom of the Soap Opera
A group of comedians have been trapped by the Phantom and must tackled wild games and hilarious challenges to escape. The catch? The audience holds the power to shape their stories and determine their destinies. The high drama of the Phantom of the Opera collides with classic soap opera twists. Will the Phantom be defeated? Will the Phantom be unmasked? It’s on for one night only.
The stage is set. The victims are ready. The rest is unwritten.
When: Friday, May 16 at 7:45pm.
Where: Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204.
Price: $30 per person.
7. Alice Tovey
An award-winning cabaret artist, former opera singer, stand-up comedian and filmmaker, Alice Tovey’s talent knows no bounds. She’s written some of Australia’s favourite comedy shows, including Gruen and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering. This week she brings two shows to Sydney Comedy Festival.
The first, Glass Houses, is a love letter to family. Just before her wedding, Alice’s father returned home from prison. Through stand-up, stories and song, she tells the story of a cancelled wedding, budgies, a diagnoses and learning that our parents are human. It’s an adults-only show but if you have kids into comedy, check out her second show, Rude Words You Should Never Say. It’s an hour of original songs and stand-up suitable for 6-12-year-olds. Exploring the etymology of words in different musical styles, it’s much more than toilet-talk (though there’s some of that, don’t worry).
Glass Houses: Enmore Theatre – Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16 at 9:30pm. $32 per person.
Rude Words You Should Never Say: Factory Theatre – Saturday, May 17 at 1:15pm. Adult $32, child $27, family $86 (2 adults + 2 kids).
8. Bad Mums
Perth-based single mum and award-winning comedian Nikki Justice hosts a lineup of her favourite “Bad Mums”. This side-splitting show has sold out shows across the country and it’s back at Sydney Comedy Festival, much to our excitement. Bringing wild stories and parenting fails that are so relatable, book the babysitters and grab your girls for a night of laughs.
When: Saturday, May 17 at 7:45pm and Sunday, May 18 at 6:45pm.
Where: Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204.
Price: $38.50 per person.
9. 5 Mistakes That Changed History
We all make mistakes but rarely do they change the course of history. Paul Coulter, historian and comedian, explores five people’s mistakes that went on to change the world. Blending history, storytelling and comedy, it doesn’t matter if you’re not a history buff—just don’t let your mistake be missing out on this show!
His smash-hit show has sold out Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Adelaide Fringe Festival in both 2023 and 2024. This year, Penguin Random House will turn the show into a book, 10 Mistakes That Changed History. Catch it before it reaches even higher heights.
There’s also a family edition of Paul’s show at Factory Theatre on Saturday (May 17 at 1:15pm; $34 per person).
When: Friday, May 16 at 6:30pm and Sunday, May 18 at 4pm.
Where: Bondi Pavilion Theatre, Queen Elizabeth Dr, Bondi Beach NSW 2026.
Price: $34 per person.
Sydney Comedy Festival
When: Daily until Sunday, May 18.
Where: Participating venues across the city include Bondi Pavilion Theatre, The Comedy Store, Enmore Theatre, Foundry Theatre, Randwick Ritz and The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre.
For more information visit sydneycomedyfest.com.au.
READ MORE: Sydney Comedy Festival 2025 Lineup, Dates & Tickets
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