DEADLY FUNNY
Brown’s Mart and Melbourne International Comedy Festival join forces for the next three years to make sure Deadly Funny in Darwin is cheekier, louder, blacker, and prouder than ever!
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS
IMAGE NICK ROBERTSON
AUSTRALIA'S PREMIER FIRST Nations comedy competition is back, and on the hunt for the most hilarious Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytellers in the Northern Territory. For almost two decades, this deadly competition has unearthed some of the freshest, fiercest, and funniest comedians and yarn-spinners from the oldest culture on Earth.
Hosted by Leon Filewood and Kamahi Djordan King, comedians battle it out with five minutes of original material in the forms of stand-up comedy, music, sketch, dance, yarns, and more.
As host, Filewood looks for people that bring confidence and their authentic self to the stage.
“It can be very challenging to do, as it’s often their first time on stage, but once they get that first laugh, their confidence really shows. I remember when I performed at Deadly Funny, I got my first laugh and thought I was Eddie Murphy after that,” he says.
Presented during NAIDOC week, Filewood describes comedy as a space for reconciliation.
“It allows us all to come together and laugh in a world that is dividing us. It takes us back to the humanity of people present and laughing together.”
A sweetener is the prize for the funniest performer. Selected comedians win a trip to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to perform at the National Grand Final to go in the running for the $3,000 national prize to kickstart their career in the performing arts.
Now in its 20th year, Deadly Funny has propelled stars including Steph Tisdell, Kevin Kropinyeri, Andy Saundes, Janty Blair, Shiralee Hood, Dane Simpson, Elaine Crombie, Jay Wymarra, Leon Filewood and Sean Choolburra to great heights, both as participants and mentors.
“Comedy is people bringing insight to life and in the community and there’s not enough First Nations voices in that space,” Filewood says.
“Deadly Funny gives a platform and opportunity to hear our stories. I love hearing the funny stories from the community, and this new collaboration with Brown’s Mart Theatre is great for comedy to be in a designated art space as there is community spirit in that.”
“Deadly Funny gives a platform and opportunity to hear our stories. I love hearing the funny stories from the community, and this new collaboration with Brown’s Mart Theatre is great for comedy to be in a designated art space as there is community spirit in that.”
Deadly Funny
WHEN SAT 11 JUL | 7PM
AT BROWN’S MART THEATRE
COST $12.50-$25
INFO deadlyfunny.com.au
