I recommend this...

Green Faces Grand Final

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

4 September, 8.30pm 2008
Canberra Irish Club
6 Parkinson St, Weston

"I hope you enjoy my sideburns. I grew them so I could look more like Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice... if his mum had been ****ed by Wolverine from the X-Men." - John Robertson, Green Faces WA state final winner.

As well as being Australia's home of fireworks, porn and politicians, Canberra also plays host to one of the country's premier stand-up comedy competitions, Green Faces. The annually held competition has proven itself a launching pad for numerous Australian comics since its 1997 inception, with previous entrants including Tom Gleeson, Chris 'the bloke' Franklin and popular newcomer Charlie Pickering.

Aimed specifically at budding open mic-level comedians, Green Faces is judged entirely by an audience vote and has two simple requirements of its entrants: original material and an average weekly performance income of less than $150. The comp has seen more than 400 entrants since its birth and has given away more than $20,000, but the real prize is the prestige that comes along with being a Green Faces winner.

Among the hopeful comics gathering from all around the country is recent WA state final winner, John Robertson, who can't wait to flex his comedic muscles in front of the eager Irish Club crowd: "I'm looking forward to the trip to Canberra, a city I've been laughing at for years!"

Conrad Richters