Chris Demos is Crunching in Strong With Chips In The Night for Melbourne International Comedy Festival Do you spend your nights bathed in blue light, staring at screens and eating chips? Then you deserve a break. So come join me on my potato-ship and we’ll sail across the seven seas of hilarities in this stand-up show about gastroenterologists, double vanities and so many more things. Grab your chips and hold on tight, Chris is back with his signature sharp wit and storytelling finesse.
Chris, a former RAW Comedy Victorian State Finalist and mainstay of the Australian comedy scene. Following sold-out seasons of Casual Luxury (2022) and Legs in the Pool (2024) and Actually Kind of Hot (2025), Chris is back at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his fourth solo show. Chips In The Night is for anyone who spent lonely nights on the couch with reality TV for a companion. There’s no nautical theme, but there may be an occasional reference to Below Deck.
A former RAW Comedy Victorian State finalist and staple of the Melbourne comedy scene, Chris has carved out a reputation for his keen observational humour and magnetic stage presence. Whether you’re a fan of Judge Judy, Judi Dench, or just the awkward spectacle of someone trying to remove a too-tight pair of boots, this show is for you.
Catch Chips In The Night at Melbourne Comedy Festival from April 7 to 19 at Storyville. Tickets on sale now.
“Strong stage presence, gaggy punchlines and insightful storytelling.” ★★★★ The Funny Tonne
“Demos is instantly likeable, making an immediate connection with his audience… a comedian on the rise and one to look out for.” Australian Arts Review
“A hilariously and viciously observant, radiantly talented storyteller.” Praise Dionysus
Yes! Tonight My Love! Maitreyi Karanth Is Taking A Page From Napoleon’s Playbook and is here to Prove Fifty is Only the Beginning! “So likeable, so relatable, so wordly and SO hilarious!” Jami Gong, TakeOut Comedy
Fifty, frisky and family roadtrippin’. A midlife crisis, a round-the-world tour and a glimpse of marital life. Laughs, luggage and a little lack of lingerie. Ooh la la!
Following 10 sold out shows at Hong Kong’s oldest and best comedy club, the matriarch of Hong Kong comedy makes her long-awaited Australian debut.
In her bold new show, the Hong Kong-based, self-crowned queen of comedy will debut her brand-new show MAITRIARCHY at the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival at Ballers in Melbourne’s CBD.
“I can’t wait to hit the stage and bring laughter and joy to everyone who needs a little extra cheer right in the new year,” says Karanth. “As a comedian, reaching new audiences is absolute bliss. Melbourne, watch out, I am here to deliver!”
Maitreyi brings her storytelling style to the stage with her unique POV as an expat. She explores her life as a philanthropist, public speaker, wife, mother, and well-travelled woman with stories about being fifty, frisky and full of life whilst traversing the planet.
Karanth began her career in stand-up comedy 7 years ago and since then is the first woman in HK comedy to perform in a solo theatre show and sold out a 400-seat theatre. She sold-out 10 solo shows in Hong Kong and has opened for international comedy heavyweights: Tom Cotter, Gina Yashere, Atul Khatri and Pau Ogata to name a few.
She made her Aussie debut in September 2025 at Sydney’s Factory Theatre with DAUGHTER FROM ANOTHER OTTER alongside comedian Annie Louey for the Sydney Fringe Festival.
When she’s not on stage, Maitreyi is the founder and CEO of the Koma Karanth Foundation (Philippines-focused), which has: • Built 44 homes to date • Runs a tutoring school • Operates an old age community centre • Free lunches and transport for the impoverished tribal children
MAITRIARCHY will run from April 7 – 19th with tickets on sale now.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026 AmCham’s Women of Influence Award 2025 – Leading Woman in Arts, Sports, and Leisure TEDx speaker 2021 – Age is not just a number, it’s a journey
If you didn’t get a front row seat to the trial that gripped the nation, then don’t worry, Joseph Green has you covered. As Associate to a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Joseph worked on the trial of Erin Patterson, now infamously known as The Mushroom Lady. After seven murder trials and months of working on the pre-trial for Ms Patterson, Joseph resigns and goes to clown school. The combination of which provided the perfect backdrop to create Mushroom Lady, touring Australia in 2026 and coming to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Joseph Green is a comedian and storyteller, he’s performed stand-up across America, UK, Europe and India. An accomplished actor, Joseph appeared in the Superwog series Son of a Donkey (Netflix) and trained with the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York. Leaning into the handsome and charming, Joseph has also worked as a model in New York and Paris.
“Handsome, charming and possessing the type of voice that audiobook companies have wet dreams about.” TheMusic ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Green’s a gifted storyteller.” ArtsHub ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mushroom Lady will premiere in Sydney on January 25 before touring the country to Fringe World, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival and Brisbane Comedy Festival. This is a show for anyone fascinated by trials, mushies and how not to cook with them.
More information visit josephgreen.com.au.
MUSHROOM LADY 2026 TOUR DATES
SYDNEY
Sunday 25 January
Chippo Hotel
Tickets
PERTH
Thu 5 February
Balmoral Hotel
FREMANTLE
Sunday 8 February
The Sail & Anchor
Tickets
ADELAIDE
Wed 25, Thu 26, Fri 27, Sat 28 February, Sun 1 March
Venue TBC
BRISBANE
Sat 7 March
Good Chat Comedy Club
Tickets
HOBART
Sat 14 March
Brewlab
Tickets
MELBOURNE
Wed 25 – Sun 29, Tue 31 Mar, Wed 1 – Sun 19 Apr
House of Maximon
Tickets
Sydney Writers’ Festival will present its first Family Day as part of the new year-round program at the State Library of NSW on Sunday 23 November 2025. Part of the Festival’s landmark partnership with the State Library of NSW and supported by the NSW Government, Family Day will transform the Library into a hub of storytelling, creativity and play. With a mix of free sessions and low-cost workshops, the program invites children to read, write, draw, sing and imagine alongside some of Australia’s most loved storytellers and illustrators, making it the ideal day out for families. “Family Day is all about celebrating the joy of stories and sparking kids’ imaginations,” said Sydney Writers’ Festival Manager of Children’s & YA Programs, Nathan Luff. “We want to give children the chance to laugh, sing, read, write and create alongside their families – and discover that books and storytelling can be playful, exciting and fun.”
Young creatives can book into special workshops to sharpen their storytelling skills. Budding authors will learn how to turn real life into fiction in a Writing Workshop with Deb Fitzpatrick, while comic lovers can step into the world of characters and cliffhangers in a Graphic Novel Workshop with Andrew Cranna. For crafty minds, the Pop-Up Book Workshop with Freda Chiu shows kids how to design their own fantastical three-dimensional creations to take home. These ticketed sessions have limited places and are recommended for ages 7 and up.
The day also bursts with big free events for families to enjoy together. Storytime Spectacular kicks things off with a lively mix of readings, music and drawing that will have kids singing and dancing along. Animal lovers can meet Dozer the golden retriever live on stage in Storytime with Nagi Maehashi, Adam Simpson & Dozer, celebrating the playful picture book Row, Row, Row Your Boat (with Monsters). Fans of feathered heroes won’t want to miss Real Pigeons Bin Baddies, as the creators of the hit series reveal the secret life of crime-fighting pigeons. Adventure awaits at Seafaring with Amelia Mellor, a pirate-themed session filled with tall tales, sea shanties and games. And to close out the day, The Totally Epic Kids Book Gameshow takes storytelling, drawing and spelling to chaotic new heights – with the kids in the audience helping to decide who wins.
For those who like to get hands on, Craft Stations will run all day with drop-in activities where kids can cut, colour and create their own story-inspired artworks. And out the front of the Library, Russ the Story Bus will be open for curious readers to climb aboard, pick a book from his jam-packed shelves and cosy up in his colourful mobile library.
Family Day underscores the Festival’s commitment to making reading and writing part of Sydney’s everyday life. Registration is required for most free sessions and places are limited for workshops. The full Sydney Writers’ Festival 2025 Family Day program can be found online at swf.org.au. Tickets are available via presale on Wednesday, 24 September and on sale to the general public on Thursday, 25 September. Book-loving families are encouraged to sign up to the SWF eNews for exclusive presale ticket access.
What to Expect: Storytime Spectacular: A joyful opening session featuring live readings, music and drawing with Jazz Money, Jason Phu, Stephen Michael King and Josh Pyke, sharing The Frog’s First Song and Some Days You’ll Have Days Like These.
Workshops for Young Creatives: Writing Workshop with Deb Fitzpatrick – Learn to turn real life into fiction. Graphic Novel Workshop with Andrew Cranna – Interactive “choose your own” storytelling adventure. Pop-Up Book Workshop with Freda Chiu – Craft fantastical 3D creations to take home.
Live Story Sessions: Storytime with Nagi Maehashi, Adam Simpson & Dozer – Featuring the picture book Row, Row, Row Your Boat (with Monsters) and an appearance from Dozer the golden retriever. Real Pigeons Bin Baddies – Meet the creators of the bestselling Real Pigeons series in a fun-filled, feathered crime-fighting session. Seafaring with Amelia Mellor – Pirate tales, sea shanties and games inspired by Oceanforged.
The Totally Epic Kids Book Gameshow: A live, chaotic competition between bestselling creators Eva Amores, Matt Cosgrove, Jol Temple and Kate Temple, hosted by Nathan Luff, with kids helping decide who wins. All-Day Activities: Craft Stations – Drop-in creativity with story-inspired crafts led by authors Amanda Lieber and Jo Staker. Russ the Story Bus – mobile library.
