In 2004 Tony Briggs initiated a relationship between ILBIJERRI and Melbourne International Comedy Festival to develop comedy skills for Indigenous writers and performers. We figured we’ve aired a lot of important sad stories, and while it’s imperative to keep telling them – can’t we also have a bit of fun?

So we put 5 Blakfellas who’d never done stand up comedy before, in a room with Comedian/Joke Doctor Russell Fletcher (Spontaneous Broadway, Twelve Angry Men, The Adventures of Lano and Woodley) and NATIVES GETTING FUNNY is what stumbled out, four months later. Each of the short stand-up monologues shares a sometimes silly, sometimes sardonic, but always insightful slice of Blak humour.

Featuring Tammy Anderson, Lionel Austin, Lisa Bellear, Lou Bennett and Dennis Fisher (Den the Fish).

Director – Kylie Belling
Joke Doctor – Russell Fletcher
Production Stage Manager – PJ Rosas