"The hit show that has it all: stand-up, improv, heckling, roasting and real boxing."
Three minutes walk from the town hall is The Bull & Bear Tavern, an old school pub turned comedy hub, with four comedy shows a night for the duration of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Sydneysider and stand-up comedian Sam Kissajukian says they set up the hub to display Sydney talent throughout the MICF.
His own offering, Comedy Boxing, is "the hit show that has it all: stand up, improv, heckling, roasting and real boxing", says Kissajukian, who faces off against the UK's Kyle Legacy in the comedy ring and has apparently suffered black eyes and an investigation from the WA fight commission for the privilege. It might have something to do with his pre-match warm-up of "whisky and star jumps".
There are also "two brilliant female solo shows: Wronger Than You from Jen Carnovale & Funny Bits from CJ Delling". Wronger Than You skips the age old question of just full or empty your glass is and asks what happens if you've dropped it by exploring the highs and lows of Carnovale's year. CJ Delling's show see the critically acclaimed comedian give life emergency surgery, in search of the funny bits.
Jokes To Bang To, which Kissajukian says audience members have taken as a literal title at least once, features Daniel Muggleton and Paige Hally performing "exciting stand-up with dirt, grit and edge" nightly, joined by Marty Bright for the first fortnight and Matty B the second to create a varied and comedic menage e trois.
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To round things out there's also The Bull & Bear Comedy Showcase, a late night show focused on displaying some of best Sydney's comedic talent. So if you're "loose, fun and up for it", head on down.