About Magners International Comedy Festival

Magners International Comedy Festival is in town for the second year running. The comedy festival brings to our shores prominent comics from America, Europe, and Asia, with headliners such as John Robertson (AUS), Imaan Hadchiti (AUS/LBN), Mr Al Lubel (US), Phil Kay (UK), and Shazia Mirza (UK).

For a country infamous for being uptight and afraid to crack a smile, Singaporeans know we could all do with a hearty laugh and a cider or two as we wind down after a long week. The comics coming down for this festival bring a wealth of experience, with some being in the business for as long as 30 years. 

What to expect at Magners International Comedy Festival

The TSL team headed down on opening night to Hero’s Bar to see what was in store for Singaporeans this year. Rik Carranza, the opening act, displayed a range of talent, singing, showing pictures of drawings, and interacting with the audience. His act relied a lot on his upbringing as a Scottish-Filipino residing in Scotland, and while the largely Caucasian crowd loved him, I found his act surprisingly relatable as well.

Matthew Giffen, the second act, was a totally different creature. His force of personality dominated the stage, almost daring the audience not to laugh at his jokes. But of course we all did – he was incredibly irreverent, poking fun at everything from stereotypes of Singapore to the poor gentleman sitting in the front who got roasted mercilessly.

If the other acts are anywhere near as good as these two, you’ll be in for a real treat. I was wowed by the wit and humour of the comics. 

Tip: For the more reserved, stay away from the area in front of the stage, lest you be roasted by the comics! The language used at the festival is R21, so keep an open mind when you visit. The comics bring you laughter with irreverence, poking fun at everything they can think of.

Catch the show before it ends

The Comedy Festival is held concurrently across 11 separate venues near Raffles Place and Clark Quay MRT Stations. Just show up at any of them to purchase a Passport Ticket (one day, all shows, all venues) at $70 or a Venue Ticket (one day, one specific venue) at $50. 

Dates: 19-21 March 2015

Event Venues:

• Harry’s @ Boat Quay
• The Penny Black, Boat Quay
• Hero’s Bar, Boat Quay
• Molly Mallone’s Irish Pub, Circular Road
• China One, Clarke Quay
• KOI Brunch and Beats, Circular Road
• Boomerang Bistro & Bar, Clarke Quay
• McGettigan’s, Clarke Quay
• Shuffle Bistro & Bar, Clarke Quay
• Fern & Kiwi, Clarke Quay

Website: http://comedyfest.com.sg/

Ticket sales begin at 7pm at the door.

This post was brought to you by Magners International Comedy Festival.