SBS shares front row seats in Stand Up @ Bella Union

SBS 2 shares front row seats in Stand Up @ Bella Union

February 11, 2014

News Release

An Asian, an African and an Egyptian walk into a bar in Stand Up @ Bella Union, SBS 2's new ten-part comedy series which turns up the mic on the talents of a diverse crop of Australian comedians this March.

Filmed live over five nights at iconic Melbourne comedy venue the Bella Union, the show features laugh out loud stand-up routines from a hand-picked bunch of jokers including host of Triple J Breakfast Matt Okine, Nazeem Hussain (Legally Brown), Dan Ilic (Can of Worms, Hungry Beast), Winner of the 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Best Newcomer Award Ronny Chieng, 22 year old comedy wonder kid Joel Creasy, Melbourne International Comedy Festival favourite Geraldine Hickey, hilarious indigenous comedian Kevin Kropinyeri, and Australian - Egyptian 2011 Raw Comedy Finalist Khaled Khalafalla to name a few.

Once the applause has rung out, The Chaser's Chas Licciardello will be ready backstage to probe, prod and grill this fresh batch of comedians to explore their distinctive voices and uncover their personal and unique stories behind the laughs.

Produced by renowned local production company Princess Pictures (It's a Date, Ja'mie: Private School Girl) this new series illustrates the depth of comedic talent in Australia. All of the 35 comedians featured have a distinctive voice and are pushing the boundaries of conventional comedy by hilariously and provocatively discussing issues of race, social inclusion and politics.

SBS 2 is sharing front row seats to the show, and heckling from the safety of your couch is optional.

Episode One: Featuring Matt Okine, Michael Hing and Sonia Di Lorio airs Sunday March 9, 9pm on SBS 2

In 2004 at 18 years of age Matt Okine was a Triple J Raw Comedy finalist. Now he is the host of the stations hugely popular breakfast show alongside Alyx Dyson. Since first trying his hand at comedy nine years ago Matt has toured both nationally and internationally performing at invite only Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, London's Soho Theatre in West End, and Edinburgh. His show Being Black N Chicken N Shit took out the Best Newcomer Award at Melbourne Comedy Festival 2012. Matt kicks off this series with his polished, precisely written tight observational comedy. Alongside Matt, newcomer Sonia Di Lorio finds a toothbrush shaped like a penis and Sydney stalwart, Michael Hing, gets dumped for being Chinese. Later in the show Matt reveals to host Chas Licciardello his lifelong desire to be a performer and shows the audience how to handle an armed robber.

LINK:	http://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/news-media-releases/view/id/824/h/SBS-2-...
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