The Brimbank Comedy Gala brought life and laughter to the Bowery Theatre. As a feature of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, it was a true gift of innovative comedy for the local audience. The Gala showcased seven comedians who all brought their own diverse backgrounds and personalities to their performances. There was a joke for every audience member, with the Gala’s greatest strength being that it hosted performers who brought various energies, yet all had an equal amount of talent. Each and every one of the performers: Samuel Gebreselassie, Ben Knight, Ciang Ajeic, Urvi Majumdar, William Wang, Suren Jayemanne and He Huang could have successfully performed a solo stand-up show. Still, when they were brought together, there was an undeniable radiance of wit and talent.

Whoever chose Ben Knight as the master of ceremonies for the evening should be applauded. Knight is a natural at easing spectators through the difficult transition from waiting in a theatre to becoming actively involved audience members. Particularly, Knight’s crowd work was especially astonishing. He was able to ask audience members a simple question: What’s your name?, and build an entire plot around their one-word response. Knight’s scripted and improvised works were a success, he served his duties as MC but also made every second he spent on stage worthwhile. Knight’s comedic armour protected the performers he introduced from a cold, awkward crowd. The joy that is Ben Knight was an unmissable element of the show.

No comedian in the show gave a weak performance, but there were a few that stood out for me as particularly strong. Urvi Majumdar’s monotone delivery complemented her storytelling. Think of the Kardashian, “I’m too cool to emphasise my words” style of speech. Watching this portion of the show felt like listening to an enticing new friend whose charm is overwhelming, but in the best way possible. Majumdar joked about her family with such ease it felt as if I already personally knew the people in her material. This sense of friendliness did not start or end with Majumdar. The entire show was a relay race, with each comedian successfully passing on the baton of simple yet effective entertainment to their next team-mate.

The impressive talent kept flowing with Ciang Ajeic’s performance. Ajeic alone could have kept the audience entertained for the entire show. He radiated charisma and personality at a level that is rare to come by. Ajeic innovatively joked about his statement smile, creating humour around how animated his facial expressions can be. Specifically, Ajeic created this narrative around how he has become known for his smile. This joke only continued to pay off, as every time Ajeic successfully delivered (which was frequent), he would smile with pride, reminding you of that initial joke. This “in-joke”—intentionally or not—perfectly supported Ajeic’s entire set. The comedian has this natural-born ability to convey pure jubilance. Ajeic’s delivery and persona elevated his jokes to heights no ordinary person could reach. Ajeic’s compelling joy proved he is one to watch in Melbourne’s comedy scene.

The greatest gift of this Gala was how much joy it brought to the local community of Brimbank. These simple, yet effective showcases have the ability to encourage local residents to build a community amongst one another. The jokes weren’t specific to the city of Brimbank, however the comedians asked the audience about the area to get to know their Brimbank lifestyles. There’s no need to travel far for entertainment when there are refreshingly distinct talents down the road. I also found the Bowery Theatre was the perfect backdrop for this show. A newly renovated venue in the heart of St. Albans, it offered the cheapest snacks I’ve seen in years. With discounted tickets for Brimbank locals they welcomed guests with open arms. This Gala united television talents with Brimbank’s very own, gifting us a comedy show that should become an annual celebration. Hopefully I’ll see you there next year!