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FESTIVAL DIRECTOR CAUGHT OUT!Oooops! Wrong photo. It's not me I swear!

Anyway here it is, the amazing 2004 Big Laugh Comedy Festival program… and it is the best yet!

We guarantee there will be at least two must-see shows in here for everyone, allat Sydney's finest theatre complex, Riverside Theatres in Parramatta.

A festival is a celebration and the Big Laugh in 2004 really does celebrate comedy in its many forms…

We are particularly proud of the two productions we have been deeply involved in putting together; theastonishing and hilarious true story of a real ASIO spy turned comedian, I Spied; and our biggest everenterprise, the creation of The 3rd Degree - the best of all the university comedy revues in Sydney boileddown to 70 minutes of sure fire laughs.

We are also delighted to welcome our biggest ever line-up of international performers. And what a coup to havethe voice of Bart Simpson, Nancy Cartwright, in her Australian premiere at the Big Laugh for our opening night.

A couple of old mates are back too. Wendy Harmer will host a very special free show called No LaughingIn The Library where festival guests will be reading bits from their favourite funny books and RodQuantock who has appeared at all four Big Laugh festivals will be back with another of his savage andhilarious one man extravaganzas (he claims it is a musical on ice and we don't believe a word of it)!

The list goes on and on: Steve Bisley in the Broadway comedy hit Defending The Caveman; The comics from television's hottest sketch show SkitHOUSE; lunatic Japanese daredevils The Tokyo Shock Boys; hilarious musical comics Tripod; and the brilliant UK impressionist Phil Cool, along with another two of the hottest comics from the UK, Boothby Graffoe and Danny Bhoy.

There really is something in this program for everyone – go on, flick through! Reward yourself with a laugh and make sure you see at least two of the one-hundred-and-eight opportunities for a great night (or afternoon) out at the 2004 Big Laugh Comedy Festival!

Get your tickets NOW and we will see you after your show in the bar.

John Pinder Director

PS Thanks to all the artists, co-producers, sponsors and staff...

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CARTWRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS

NANCY CARTWRIGHT (THE VOICE OF BART SIMPSON)MY LIFE AS A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY

You may not even know what she looks like, but NancyCartwright is an international television comedy legend -famous for her fifteen-year stint as the voice of the mostprecocious, irreverent and intriguing 10-year-old boy theworld has ever known - Bart Simpson!

For two shows only, the woman of a thousand voiceswill deliver the hilarious ‘warts-and-all’ inside story on the most successful animated series ever, TheSimpsons. With side-splitting clips from The Simpsons,Rugrats and Kim Possible and stranger than fiction anecdotes about the stars that have made guest appearances on the shows – like Meryl Streep and Mel Gibson – this is a once-in-a-lifetime treat for any fan of the world’s favourite yellow family.

THE BIG (OPENING

NIGHT) BANG

TOKEN PRESENTS

TRIPOD Scod, Yon and Gatesy are three ofthe funniest musical blokes in thecountry. You probably know thembetter as Tripod, the stars of the Ten Network hit comedy showskitHOUSE and the highlight of Triple J’s breakfast show every Tuesday.

These guys have cracked up almostevery major radio and television station in the country, played to sell-out houses everywhere, releasedtwo full-length albums and generallytorn up the comedy circuit with theirlooney-tune antics.

And they're not afraid to admit that they’re quite comfortable doing three-part harmony with other men.

“A beautifully performed rollercoaster ride of captivating nonsense, fabulous comedy and music... definitely

go and see them!” THE SCOTSMAN

“Obscenely talented. A festival highlight.” THE AGE

“The funniest musical comedy act in the country” HERALD SUN

D 20 MarchT 9.30pm V Riverside TheatreP $31.90 full, $27.90 concession

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TOKEN PRESENTS

DAVEHUGHESDave Hughes is one of Australia's most impressivestand-up comedians, a rare beast in that every othercomedian in Australia is only too ready to sing hispraises. A natural and un-mistakably Australiancomic, Dave's laconic style thinly disguises one ofthe fastest comic minds this country has ever seen.

For the last two years, Hughesy has been clamberingout of bed to make Melbourne laugh every morningwith Kate Langbroek and Dave O'Neil on Nova 100'saward winning Breakfast Show. When Hughesy isn'tgetting up at sparrow's to talk on the radio, he is hopping on a plane to Sydney to be one third of ABC-TV's late night cult offering – The Glass House.

Dave is simply this country's hottest live stand-up and his last series of shows in Sydney completelysold out. You don't want to miss anything he says – so buy a ticket now!

“Hughes had a good time and the audience was in stitches. Mission accomplished.” THE AGE

“Dave Hughes is one of the funniest men in a city that has producedmany of Australia's funniest people.” SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SYDNEY

D 13 & 14 MarchT 7.30pm Sat, 5pm SunV Riverside TheatreP $33 all tickets

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THE FABULOUS SINGLETTESFROM BEEHIVE TO BOTOXThey're back… more outrageous than ever after all these years…

Naomi Eyers has led the Fabulous Singlettes around the world for fifteen years. They’ve done it all, from Sydneyto The West End, via Vienna and Verona and Hong Kong to a recent record run in Berlin.

Hilarious, divine and a delicious tongue-in-cheektribute to the legendary girl groups, The FabulousSinglettes have become an Australian comedycabaret legend around the world. They may be a little bit older, but they still keep everything lifted as high as their beehives.

So Da Doo Ron Ron down to the box office and grabyour seat.

“Impeccable comic timing, gloriously talented and

tackily elegant”THE AGE

D 26 & 27 MarchT 7.30pmV Riverside TheatreP $34.90 full, $31.90 concession

Hair-d

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FREE DRINK FOR

THE TALLEST“DO” ON THE

NIGHT!!!

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MARK MORRISSEY & ASSOCIATES AND PARRAMATTA’S BIG LAUGH COMEDY FESTIVAL PRESENT

I SPIED TRUE CONFESSIONS OF AN EX-ASIO OPERATIVE

Written and performed by David Callan

The only spook ever to leave the spying gamefor the comedy game!

This is the hilarious true story of ASIO operativeDavid 'Frosty' Callan's contribution to the security

of Australia in dark and dangerous times. You’llwonder how this guy ever got through the rigid

psychological testing and security checks but it’s TRUE - Callan was really there.

And it was supposed to be a secret…

“Fabulous… I Spied is a fascinating and funnyshow and Callan is a top (secret) performer.Check it out. This review will self-destruct

in five seconds” DRUM MEDIA

“Bloody funny! He knows his stuff and he knows your stuff too!”

CNNN ABCTV

“He is armed with a Colt 45, and enough gagsto delight… Part Bond…and part Jonny English…[this] one-man performance is a winner” ABC RADIO

D 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27 MarchT 7.15pm Tues– Sat, 5.15pm SunV Lennox TheatreP $24.90 full, $19.90 concession

GARRY VAN EGMOND & ROSS MOLLISON PRESENT

DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN STEVE BISLEYBy Rob Becker

In Broadway’s longest running one-man show, the much-maligned male finally gets to stand up for himself. This hilarious show forces us to laugh at the truth as it attempts to answer the universal question… why do men and women misunderstand each other?

This is the show that is finally getting men out of their caves and into the theatre with their wives and girlfriends.

If you are married, see this show… if you are dating, seethis show… if you are single, you DESPERATELY needto see this show... it will save your relationship!

“Hilarious! Probes the male mystiquewith a well-aimed spear”

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

“Hysterically funny! made me laughuntil I had tears rolling down

my cheeks” VARIETY

“Caveman is a nationwide comic phenomenon!” NEW YORK TIMES

“Besides being very funny, the show isexcellent relationship therapy!”

MELBOURNE WEEKLY

D 16, 17, 18 MarchT 7.30pmV Riverside Theatre P $45 full, $40 concession, $30 youth

SYDNEY PREMIERE!

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A-LIST ENTERTAINMENT

TAHIR PRESENTS

SHOW US YOUR ROOTS! Ten of Australia’s top stand-up comedians show us their roots and give their hilarious take on what it’slike growing up in a country that calls itself ‘multicultural’.

Featuring Anthony Mir from Lebanon (You Cant Stop the Murders) Akmal Saleh from Egypt (TheGlasshouse), Desh from India (The Footy Show), Chris Wainhouse from New Zealand (ROVE Live), TommyDean from the USA (writer for The Fat) Ronan McChesnie from Ireland, Trevor Crook from the UK and NickSun from China - with your host for the evening Tahir (Habib from Pizza)!

Don't miss Show Us Ya Roots direct from theNational Multicultural Festival, Canberra.

“What fascinated me was the common thread of irony, done in the Australian laconic

manner which linked performersof such diverse backgrounds… This deserves to become…

a tradition” THE CANBERRA TIMES

D 26, 27 MarchT 9.30pmV Riverside TheatreP $34.90 full,

$31.90 concession

THE BIG FINISH! THE BIGGEST LINE-UP! VERY MULTICULTURAL!VERY, VERY FUNNY!

TAHIR

CHRIS WAINHOUSE

DESH

AKMAL SALEH

TOMMY DEAN

ANTHONY MIR

MAGGIE GERRAND PRESENTS DIRECT FROM SCOTLAND

DANNY BHOY Danny Bhoy, at only 28, is one of the international stand-up circuit’s most sought-after performers, having performed and sold out at festivals all over the world including Edinburgh Fringe Festival, New York and Montreal.

This ‘Hot Scot’ came to Australia in 2003 as a virtual unknown. He left as one of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s brightest new stars, performing to packed houses and with additional shows being added to cope with the demand.

Danny Bhoy’s accents, impersonations, sexy looksand considerable charm will have you alternatingbetween swoons and belly-laughs the whole show.

“Heaven knows where he gets his charmfrom, but the boy has it by the bucketload...This man brings some of the female membersof the audience dangerously close to orgasm...

Moments of improvisational glee.” THE SCOTSMAN

“…his accents and impersonations are sublime” THE SUNDAY AGE

"growing up poor and Indian in a small Scottish town has given Danny Bhoy plenty to laugh about...It gave birth to a prodigious

stand up career" SUNDAY HERALD SUN

D 19, 20, 21 MarchT 9.15pm Fri & Sat, 7pm SunV Lennox TheatreP $31.90 full, $27.90 concession

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ROD QUANTOCKHOWARD ON ICE: THE MUSICALFor the first time in a dazzling and illustrious career that spans more than three decades, Rod Quantock, the aging inventor of sit-down comedy©, proudly presents…

A MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA ON ICE!At the National Press Club Launch of HOWARD ON ICE – THE MUSICAL Quantock said “People werealways saying to me, ‘Forget politics, why don’t you do a musical extravaganza on ice?’”.

Well, of course the eight-times winner of the coveted Australian Comedy Association’s Golden GuyFawkes Award for the comedian voted most likely to blow up Parliament could hardly ‘forget politics’… so he forgot the ice and the music instead.

But he will be presenting for the very first time anywhere… sit-down© comedy.

WARNING: May contain some John Howard

“Revolutionary, outrageous master of effortless comedy” THE AUSTRALIAN

“He is our best political comedian. He may simply be our best comedian” HERALD SUN

“For sheer cheek and inventiveness, the amazing Rod Quantock must take the honours. Bizarre, fresh, theatrically dangerous, unpredictable” THE GUARDIAN, UK

D 12, 13 14 MarchT 7.30pm Fri & Sat, 5.15pm SunV Lennox TheatreP $31.90 full, $27.90 concession

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ACCESSCOMEDY.COM PRESENTS THE WORLD’S MOST ISOLATED COMEDIAN! DIRECT FROM ALICE SPRINGS... THE GENIUS OF

FIONA O’LOUGHLIN ME OF THE NEVER NEVER

The mother of five young children, Fiona O’Loughlin isn’t exactly your average comedian. Following her Sydney debut at the Sydney Opera House in Me of the NeverNever, she returns by popular demand and will again divulge way too many thingsthat mothers really shouldn’t.

Hilarious and un-missable!

“A great blend of mirth and malevolence. Her genius as a stand-up is her unbridled honesty...” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (DEC 2003)

“...fresh hilarity... extremely infectious. ****” THE LIST, EDINBURGH

D 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 March V Raffertys TheatreT 7.30pm P $28.90 full, $24.90 concession

ACCESSCOMEDY.COM PRESENTS

MATTHEW HARDY WILLY WONKA EXPLAINEDMatthew is well known for his performances on The Big Schmooze (Foxtel) and The Fat(ABC TV). Less well known is his obsession with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... inthis hysterical new show Matthew gets in behind the plot and shows how Willy Wonkaand chocolate have influenced us and the world around us...

“Matthew Hardy is charming and amiable, delighting both the men and women in the audience as he treads

the fraught topic of sexual politics” THE SUNDAY AGE

NOTE: This is for Big Kids only.

D 16 & 17 March V Raffertys TheatreT 9.30pm P $21.90 full, $17.90 concession

BEDROOMPHILOSOPHER VS SHOCK OFTHE NEW

Get into bed with some of the finest fresh meat fromAustralia's DIY comedy renaissance.

Triple J's comedic folkstar The BedroomPhilosopher (TAS) joins rising stars Shock ofthe New (NSW / SA) for a no-holds barred evening of stand-up, song, and Tasmanian conscience wrestling. So strap on your doona and grip those pillows tight: it's the comedyslugfest of the century!

Featuring Dave Bloustien, Steve Freeman, Daniel Townes, Nick Sun & The Bedroom Philosopher

D 12, 13, 19, 20 March V Raffertys TheatreT 10.30pm P $16.90 full, $12.90 concession

ACCESSCOMEDY.COM PRESENTS

DAVID ELVINS & SEAN CHOOLBURRA HOW AUSSIE IS THAT?David and Sean are amongst the cream of the crop of emerging Australian comedytalent, the National Champion and Runner Up respectively of the prestigious RawComedy National Final in 2003 (ABC TV), they’re fresh, smart and hilarious!

Now they’ve come together to write an hysterical show that looks hard at ournational underbelly. No-one can laugh at themselves like an Aussie...

Aussie comedy has always celebrated the easy going attitude of ourcountry. But have things changed? David and Sean find out what’s sofunny about our real 21st century cultural identity.

D 12, 13, 14 March V Raffertys TheatreT 7.30pm Fri & Sat, 5pm Sun P $21.90 full, $17.90 concession

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DAVE BLOUSTIEN, STEVE FREEMAN,

DANIEL TOWNES, NICK SUN

SEAN CHOOLBURRA

DAVID ELVINS

THE BEDROOMPHILOSOPHER

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NO LAUGHING IN THE LIBRARY Hosted By Wendy Harmer with Festival Guests.Presented in association with Parramatta City Library.

Funny people reading their favourite funny authors in an All Star FREE festival special event.

Believe it or Not! A literary reading by comedians reading from the books that make them laugh. A brilliant and revealing free show. Come and discover the stars’ favourite reading material plus much more in a delicious afternoon of literacy, illiteracy and lunacy.

D 13 MarchT 4pm*V Lennox Theatre

*Entry is FREE but strictly limited to 200 people. You MUST reserve your seat by phoning the No Laughing in the Library hotline on 8839 3356.

RICHARD TIPPING’S SIGN LANGUAGEThe Courtyard and Foyers will be transformed into an alternate universe, where obeying signs can be confusing.

In this world STOP signs read GO, shop signs read SORRY, WE’RE OPEN, a roundabout is your EXIT AND this time Jill Posters will be prosecuted!

LEGALISE ACNE NOW

Famous for his fresh takes on Aussie signs Richard’s Sign Language features sixty of his best and funniest found signs from the strange world of the public street. They’ll be showing on the big screen in the Courtyard, along with some surprising and juicy words painted on the walls…

You have been warned!

THE FREEEEE

THE BIG LAUGH CARTOON & CARICATURE COMPETITION AND EXHIBITIONFor the third year, The Big Laugh’s Cartoon and Caricature competition will seek out and display the best work of Australia’sbudding young cartoonists.

Primary and Secondary students are invited to submitcartoons or caricatures , which may include:

• Caricatures of famous people - Pop Stars, Sports Stars, TV Stars, Politicians, You name it – we want it!

• Cartoons with a twisted view of the world we live in

For both the Primary and Secondary categoriesthere will be a CASH prize for the winning cartoonists ($200 1st, $100 2nd and $75 3rd),a $200 prize for the school’s library fund for thefirst prize-winners AND the chance to have your cartoon exhibited in the Riverside Theatres foyer during The Big Laugh Comedy Festival.

The exhibition will be open during the festival from 10am till closeevery day and entry is free. Come and check out a whacky view of theworld as seen through the eyes of our next generation of cartoonists. It’s always funny and a little bit disturbing!

If you’d like to enter telephone 02 8839 3398 or download an entry form at www.biglaughriverside.com.au/cartoon.html

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PRIZE PRESENTATIONTHE PRESENTATION OF PRIZES WILL BE MADE

BY WENDY HARMER AT THE CONCLUSION

OF NO LAUGHING IN THE LIBRARY ON

13 MARCH AT 5.30PM.

FRI 12 SAT 13 SUN 14 MON 15 TUES 16 WED 17 THURS 18

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

NANCY CARTWRIGHT: MY LIFE AS A TEN-YEAR-OLD BOY 7.30PM 2PM

PHIL COOL: ON HEAT 9.30PM

DAVE HUGHES 7.30PM 5PM

DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN 7.30PM 7.30PM 7.30PM

PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS: DIRECTORS CUT 9.30PM 9.30PM

KRAMER ON SEINFELD

THE SKITHOUSE COMEDIANS STAND-UP

TRIPOD

THE TOKYO SHOCK BOYS

THE SHNEEDLES:LUGGAGE

THE FABULOUS SINGLETTES: FROM BEEHIVE TO BOTOX

TAHIR AND FRIENDS: SHOW US YA ROOTS

LENNOX THEATRE

ROD QUANTOCK: HOWARD ON ICE: THE MUSICAL 7.30PM 7.30PM 5.15PM

THE 3RD DEGREE: GENERATION HECS 9PM 9PM 3PM 9PM 9PM 9PM

NO LAUGHING IN THE LIBRARY 4PM

I SPIED: TRUE CONFESSIONS OF AN EX-ASIO OFFICER 7.15PM 7.15PM 7.15PM

DANNY BHOY

BOOTHBY GRAFFOE

RAFFERTYS THEATRE

GOD INC. 9.15PM 9.15PM 9.15PM

THE BEDROOOM PHILOSOPHER VS SHOCK OF THE NEW 10.30PM 10.30PM

DAVID ELVINS & SEAN CHOOLBURRA: HOW AUSSIE IS THAT? 7.30PM 7.30PM 5PM

MATTHEW HARDY: WILLY WONKA EXPLAINED 9.30PM 9.30PM

REALITY GONE WRONG

PLUCK

FIONA O'LOUGHLAN: ME OF THE NEVER NEVER 7.30PM 7.30PM 7.30PM

THE CANDOR ROOM

FOUR PLAY: PIECES OF PLAY 2004 730PM 730PM 7.30PM

THE COURTYARD

THE TICKLERS ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT ALL ARVO ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT

THE TICKLERS: MUSIC TO SILENT MOVIES 9PM 9PM

RICHARD TIPPING: SIGN LANGUAGE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE

THEATRE FOYERS

CHASER MERCHANDISE 6.30PM TIL CLOSE 3PM TIL CLOSE 1PM TIL CLOSE

CARTOON & CARICATURE COMPETITION EXHIBITION 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE

IAN: CARTOON EXHIBITION 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE 10AM TIL CLOSE29

CALENDAR

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WHERE IT’S ALL AT

CALL 131500 OR GO TO www.131500.com.au FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFORMATION

DRIVING?The closest carpark to the Theatres is the Riverbank Shopping Centre Carpark. Access to this carpark

is from Phillip Street, between the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the AGC building.There is additional parking at Crowne Plaza and Erby Place (please see above map for more details)

PARRAMATTA

BOOK NOW!02 8839 3399

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www.biglaughriverside.com.au© Richard Tipping 2004. See Sign Language at the Big Laugh Comedy Festival