The Funny Tonne
Since 2005, Melbourne International Comedy Festival has challenged die-hard fans of funny to dive deep into the Festival program and pen engaging show reviews.
Check out the 2025 Funny Tonne Reviews below. Thanks to ArtsHub, Australia's leading independent online resource dedicated to the world of the arts, selected Funny Tonne reviews will also be published on ArtsHub.
The Reviewers
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Jade Smith
23 reviewsJade Smith (she/her) is a writer and arts manager based in Melbourne’s inner north. She is the Sales & Events Coordinator for Melbourne Fringe’s year-round venue, Fringe Common Rooms, and is a Green Room Awards panellist for Independent Theatre. She has a Masters of Arts & Cultural Management from The University of Melbourne, and is a current Wattle Fellow, where she focuses on sustainability in the independent arts sector. Most of the time, you can find Jade seeing shows, reading books, trying new restaurants, or scouring op shops for yet another pair of flared corduroy pants.
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Anna Stewart
25 reviewsAnna Stewart is a former Comedy Festival usher with a pen and a dream. Anna says: 'It’s the kind of rags to riches story that requires too earnest a tone for the Comedy Festival’s website, but you can use your imagination. I can’t wait to watch four shows a night throughout the Festival before panic-writing reviews of them the following day. It will be a thrilling test of memory for me and patience for you!'
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Ben Lamb
24 reviewsBen’s excited to jump into Funny Tonne this year and see what the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has to offer. He's worked as a freelancer for five years, with credits in Beat Magazine, Pedestrian TV, Forte Magazine, Theatre Travels, Vice, and The Scoop, among a bunch more. Besides comedy he loves all things music, playing guitar for about a decade in rock bands, soul bands, musicals, and everything in between.
