The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award, (formerly known as the Barry Award and the Stella Award) is an annual prize presented to the most outstanding comedy act at the
Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
History
It has been awarded since 1998, when it was introduced as the Stella Award. It was renamed in 2000 in honour of
Barry Humphries, and again renamed in 2019 following comments about transgender people by Humphries. It is generally regarded as the most prestigious award of the festival, and the winner receives a trophy and cash
prize.
Winners
*1998: Linda Haggar and Fahey Younger – ''Miss Itchy's Crème De Menthe Breakfast Show'' (Australia)
*1999:
Sue-Ann Post - ''G Strings and Jockstraps'' (Australia)
*2000:
The Boosh
''The Boosh'' (released on CD as ''The Mighty Boosh'') is a 2001 radio series, written and performed by The Mighty Boosh (Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding, and Rich Fulcher), and originally broadcast on BBC London Live, then BBC Radio 4, and later ...
- ''Arctic Boosh '' (UK)
*2001: Brian Munich - ''Brian Munich & Friends'' (Australia)
*2002:
Ross Noble
Ross Markham Noble (born 5 June 1976) is an English stand-up comedian and actor. Noble rose to mainstream popularity through making appearances on British television, particularly interviews and on panel shows such as '' Have I Got News for You' ...
(UK)
*2003:
Mike Wilmot (Canada)
*2004:
Maria Bamford
Maria Bamford (born September 3, 1970) is an American actress and stand-up comedian. Her work has drawn critical acclaim and controversy because her humor often uses self-deprecating and dark topics, including her dysfunctional family, depressi ...
(USA)
*2005: The Drowsy Drivers - ''
Keating! The Opera'' (Australia)
*2006:
Demetri Martin - ''Dr Earnest Parrot Presents Demetri Martin'' (USA)
*2007:
Daniel Kitson - ''It's the Fireworks Talking'' (UK)
*2008:
Nina Conti - ''Complete and Utter Conti'' (UK) and
Kristen Schaal
Kristen Joy Schaal (; born January 24, 1978) is an American actress, comedian, and writer. She is best known for her voice roles as Louise Belcher on ''Bob's Burgers'' and Mabel Pines on '' Gravity Falls''. She's also known for playing Mel on ' ...
- ''As You Have Probably Never Seen Her Before'' (USA) (Shared)
*2009:
The Pajama Men - ''Versus vs Versus'' (USA)
*2010:
Sammy J and Randy (
Heath McIvor) - ''Ricketts Lane'' (Australia)
*2011:
Russell Kane - ''Smokescreens and Castles'' (UK)
*2012:
Dr Brown (USA)
*2013:
Rich Hall (USA)
*2014:
Denise Scott - ''Mother Bare'' (Australia)
*2015:
Sam Simmons - ''Spaghetti for Breakfast'' (Australia)
*2016:
Zoe Coombs Marr aka Dave - ''Trigger Warning'' (Australia)
*2017:
Hannah Gadsby -
''Nanette'' (Australia)
*2018: Sam Campbell - ''The Trough'' (Australia)
*2019:
James Acaster - ''Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999'' (UK)
*2020: Festival cancelled due to
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...
*2021:
Geraldine Hickey - ''What a Surprise'' (Australia)
References
External links
Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Awards Page
{{Award-stub
Awards established in 1998
Australian comedy awards