In a few weeks the Melbourne International Comedy Festival kicks off for another year. I’ve had a thorough look through the program, and there are so many superb shows to pick from - and that’s just based on the acts I know!

There are four shows I can strongly recommend directly, because I’ve seen these before at past festivals:

• Garry Starr’s Classic Penguins won the best show of last year’s festival, and deservedly so. Only go if you’re comfortable with plenty of nudity though!
• Josie Long’s Now is the Time of Monsters was one of my favourites from Edinburgh last year, with laughs and sharp politics.
• Scout Boxall’s God’s Favourite was a standout from last year’s festival, smart, dark, and weird in the best way.
• Alice Fraser’s A Passion for Passion was another favourite from Edinburgh - a sharply clever interrogation of romance novels and society (worth seeing even if the topic may not immediately take your fancy).

And then, there’s my extended list of other acts who are consistently excellent:

• Ali McGregor
• Cassie Workman
• Celia Pacquola
• Chloe Petts
• Daniel Kitson
• Elf Lyons
• Felicity Ward
• Hannah Gadsby
• Laura Davis
• Mark Watson
• Sarah Keyworth

As always: if you come across any great shows, do let me know!