Melbourne Comedy Showcase Coming to Mount Isa

Published on 27 June 2025

Comedy is “absolutely good for the soul”. Brad Oakes would know – he’s a stand-up comedian with more than 25 years of experience, and he’s about to emcee the Melbourne Comedy Showcase, to be held at the Civic Centre on Thursday, July 10.

The show will kick off at 7pm and will feature some of the best stand-up comedians Melbourne has to offer, including Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann, Mel McGlensey, Sonia Di Iorio, and Billy Stiles.

 Brad said it would be a very varied show, with Lehmo – one of Australia’s most experienced and well-travelled comedians, who is also an actor, radio presenter, and TV host – as the headliner.

 “I definitely encourage everyone to come along to the show and have a great time,” Brad said.

 “It’s good to see comedy with a friend or a partner as well. When you laugh together, it celebrates your friendship and your relationship. And it’s definitely better than sitting at home and watching a show on your computer.”

 Brad is no stranger to Mount Isa, having visited in 2024 as the emcee for fellow stand-up comedian Dave O’Neil’s Mount Isa show, and he can’t wait to return to bring the Melbourne Comedy Showcase to local residents.

 “The Mount Isa audience at Dave’s show were great, they were absolutely fun as,” Brad said.

 He said Mel McGlensey – whose stage name is “Motorboat” – is a very visual act.

 “She’s very different – I doubt you’d have seen the likes of her performing in Mount Isa before,” Brad said.

 “Billy’s probably one of the hottest up-and-coming rising comedy stars at the moment. He’s got his own fan following and is doing shows by himself around the country.

 “Sonia’s very funny, and a lot of her stories relate to her as a young woman growing up.”

 Brad and Dave O’Neil recently published a comedic true-crime podcast called “Pirate Attack: Slippery Slope” that goes in-depth into pirates in the Middle East stealing a large waterslide that was destined for Mount Isa – and Brad suggested he may touch on some aspects of the podcast during his set.

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