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Wellbeing tips for surviving a gruelling festival season Part 2: Melbourne International Comedy Festival

How do comedians, clowns, cabaret artists and festival directors juggle self-care with the rigours of MICF?

1 Apr 2025 9:15

Richard Watts

Performing Arts

Melbourne International Comedy Festival logo 2025. Image: Brolga.

The juggernaut of jocularity that is Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is already well underway, with over 1000 performers – embracing every iteration of comedy imaginable, from stand-up and improv to circus and cabaret and more – performing 690 shows on 182 stages across 133 venues throughout Melbourne until Sunday 20 April.

So, if you’re a performer looking for tips on surviving a festival run while remaining sound in mind and body, or a front of house staffer or stage manager looking for similar advice, read on!

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Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's former National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in early 2020. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association in 2021, and a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Photo: Fiona Hamilton. Follow Richard on Bluesky @richardthewatts.bsky.social and Instagram @richard.l.watts