COMICS REGISTER NOW! Email Mandy Nolan at mandy@mandynolan.com.au.

The Big Joke offers emerging comedians the opportunity to strut their stuff in The Village Idiot, with four free heats happening over the Big Joke weekend.

Guest judges will select two finalists from each heat to appear in the Village Idiot Final where the newbies battle it out for the pleasure of claiming they are the Village Idiot and claim the $500 cash prize donated by The Bangalow Chamber of Commerce. Each heat is MC'd by a professional comic.

Heat One: Brendan Lovechild Brendan has a wild manic on stage persona that will blow your mind. He has performed at Splendour In The Grass 2006, JJJ Cockatoo Island Fest 2005, Woodford Folk Fest 2002-2006, Sydney Comedy Store, The Last Laugh Comedy Club, Melb & just about every comedy club around. Just last year Brendan has appeared on "Stand Up Australia", and his work has been aired nationally on JJJ.

Heat Two: Bart Freebairn Brisbane based comedian Bart is a goof. Audiences love his engaging & off the wall style. After a successful show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Bart is on his way again this year with his new show 'Doppleganger'. Bart is a regular on the Brisbane comedy scene and is currently featuring at the Brisbane Comedy Festival.

Heat Three: Ellen Briggs This Mullumbimby mother of twins found herself in comedy quite by accident. She was actually on her way to canteen duty but somehow she ended up a national finalist for Melbourne International Comedy Festival's RAW Comedy, broadcast in loungerooms around the country back in 2007. She has appeared on The Comedy Channel, was selected by MICF professionals for a talent showcase and now performs at comedy clubs around the country.

Heat Four: Nick Penn In a career that began at the infamous Sydney Comedy store twenty five years ago, Nick has performed three times a week alongside such greats as Vince Sorrenti, Little Patti, and John Williamson in clubs and comedy venues around the country. He's even supported the legendary Peter Allen and back in the day was a reporter for Simon Townsend's Wonderworld! Rapid fire gags, inoffensive material, and superb didge playing.

The Village Idiot Final: - with MC Hannah Gadsby The notoriously accident-prone Tasmanian comedian Hannah Gadsby had her comedy premiere at the Byron Bowling club in 2004. Six months later she won the national finals of RAW comedy and this sleepy-voiced, droopy-eyed girl dressed in a uniform of cover-all black found herself headlining in clubs around the country. She has performed at festivals in Edinburgh and Montreal which is a coup for the girl who admits she is chronically lazy. Raised in a hick town in Tasmania, and made to feel in turns ‘big boned’, ‘retarded’ or ‘dykey’ when growing up, she now seems mellow and happy.

This is the closing event for The Big Joke. Eight finalists from the Village Idiot heats give it their all to claim the Village Idiot Cup. With $500 up for grabs (donated by Bangalow Chamber of Commerce) and the thrill of being crowned the best new comic of The Big Joke, this final has proved to be the perfect note to end four days of laughs. Stick around for the post show after party.

When: 3pm Bangalow A&I Hall. Tickets for the Village Idiot final are $15 at the door or presale at The Urban. (02) 6687 2678. Book Now! Whilst tickets may be available at the door, pre-sale is recommended as we have limited seating available. Book early to avoid disappointment! NOTE: All heats of the Village Idiot are free.