On Sunday night, 12 of Australia’s best new comedians took to the main stage at the Melbourne Town Hall for the 2015 RAW Comedy Grand Final. The top prize was awarded to Angus Gordon from Queensland.
Angus has won a trip to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to compete in the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny? Comedy competition, and of course the coveted chicken trophy. Rohan Ganju from Victoria came runner up in the competition, fellow Victorians Sam Taunton and Jess Perkins received honourable mentions.
RAW Comedy is Australia’s biggest and most prestigious open mic comedy competition with more than 1200 contestants registering to take part this year. After more than 60 gigs took place in capital cities and regional centres around Australia, the RAW Comedy Grand Final represented a very healthy snapshot of newcomers to the stand up comedy world.
Also to be commended are the other eight RAW Comedy 2015 finalists, including Ismail Ali (VIC), Cory John Rist (WA), Anna Marg (ACT), Nicholas Huntley (SA), Charlie McCann (NSW), David McNevin (NSW), Jono Mastrippolito(TAS) and Amy Hetherington (NT). RAW Comedy India Winner Ruchir Ash also performed on the night.
The judges for the 2015 competition were Susan Provan, Festival Director, Melbourne International Comedy Festival; Steve Lock, Comedy and Cabaret Producer, Soho Theatre London, Steve Bennett, Editor, Chortle UK, MaryAnne Carroll, Executive Producer – Comedy, Seven Network and Joel Creasy, Comedian and Presenter.
The final was hosted by Adam Hills and included a special performance from UK comedy duo Lazy Suzan (Celeste Dring and Freya Parker) whilst the judges made their gruelling decision. The 2015 RAW Comedy National Grand Final will air on SBS later this year. For more information, visit: www.rawcomedy.com.au for details.
Image: Angus Gordon and Adam Hills – photo by Jim Lee