I'm so excited to have learned the Sydney comedy scene seems quite strong in Australia, as the past…read moretwo comedy shows I've been to have featured full houses and lots of laughter throughout. This past weekend, I attended my first stand-up show at Happy Endings in Kings Cross, an intimate underground 65-person theater with a stylish lounge up top where attendees can drink and chat before the show starts. I went to a "happy hour" there, an hour-long show that featured three stellar Aussie comics: Sean Woodland, Ray Badran and Chris Radburn. After getting a drink (the bar is cash only) and waiting in the lounge for about 15 minutes after show time, the theater was opened to attendees, who were ushered in party by party and given seats. Everyone had a great view of the stage, and many were near tables, allowing patrons to set their drinks down. I wouldn't say there are many significant distinguishing characteristics between the stand-up comedy styles of Aussies versus Americans, though I have discovered, I tend to "Wooo!" a lot more than Australian audience members. This difference was blatantly pointed out in the warm-ups for a live talk show I attended in Australia, when the audience was told to "cheer and clap like Americans" in order to convey excitement during the show. While I'm used to participating and cheering if a comedian asks a question I can relate to, in Australia, I haven't witnessed that as much. Despite the more subdued audiences in terms of cheering (there is still lots of laughing), the stand-up comedy was relatable in Australia, as Woodland told a killer party story involving Sinéad O'Connor, Badran had engaging weight loss anecdotes, and Radburn hysterically talked about fatherhood. What I did think was interesting was that every single comic mentioned America in their set. After hearing a joke from the door lady about "stupid Americans" directed towards my party before entering, I found the remarks about my home country interesting, as always, here in Australia. From the chill lounge experience up top, to the excitement of the underground show, to the cozy feel of the comedy club combined with the personal ushering to your seat, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and high-quality talent at Happy Endings. My only suggestion for improvement would be to swap the curtain dividing the club from the lounge to a door. As soon as ticket holders for the following show started congregating in the lounge, their laughter and talking could be heard downstairs, which was a bit distracting from the show. Otherwise, I can't wait to head back and see more entertaining Aussie comedy.

I've been to shows here at least four times now over the past few years, and am happy to put it on…read morethe shortlist of things to do on weekends when I'm visiting Sydney. As a Kings Cross location, it's easy to incorporate a visit into a night out. It's a cosy venue with a tiny bar (tended by the nicest bloke) serving only bottled beers, wines, and spirits. It suits the small capacity design of the downstairs showroom where the comedians do their thing. After a turn onstage, or during interval, you'll likely find them back upstairs occupying your favourite couch - so you might as well strike up conversation with them! Up close, casual and personal (but not pick-out-audience-member-to-shame scary) is the main vibe which brings me back again and again.

Had to cancel our trip to Sydney due to distressing circumstances. Contacted Bamboozle Room almost…read more2 weeks before show but received zero sympathy from Scarlet and zero refund as per their terms and conditions. It's probably a great show, I didn't see it, but I would suggest being very wary about booking in advance, particularly during covid times... Very disappointing.

Husband and I used the Groupon to secure a table for dinner and show for the US-Oh! Show. I came…read morehere to review this show after seeing another cabaret show and realizing, in hindsight, what a gem this show in Sydney was. The room was very intimate. Dim lights, tables very close to the stage, seating positioned in a way where you were next to your partner and also able to gaze at the stage. The show was really spectacular. There were 4 women of different sizes and looks, and 2 men. It was a series of skits poking fun at American culture (but as an American, I was off the floor laughing). The performers were sexy and engaging. Several times they jumped off the stage and engaged the audience. Each skit surprised and delighted us! There was a picnic scene with a temptress, a war brothel scene, a Vegas car wash, and many more! There seemed to be a plot for while, but it eventually went out the window (or at least, as far as my comprehension went)! The food was also "American" to fit with the theme of the show but to be honest, it was terrible. The fried chicken and waffle and apple pie were fitting choices but poorly executed. In 21st century I do not want to be eating 1940s American food. But would I go again? Absolutely. The show was just too good. The performers were so entertaining and fantastic dancers, and staged within an intimate setting. Seriously great place for a group of adults or a couple who want to see a very unique performance. Just make sure you eat before you go!

cool atmosphere. Pepsi the choice over the other cola brand. some other options could be yelpful to…read moreus ... uhem ... non drinkers. but no worries! :-)

We had the pleasure of speaking with Jaz, serving at the bar, whilst upstairs for the 5ive concert…read more This young lady was so professional, friendly and accommodating in helping us with with our merchandise. Jaz needs to be commended on her quick thinking and bubbly persona :)

If your to go to see one thrilling, nail biting, side splitting show this year in Sydney make it…read moreAbsinthe. The whole experience is top notch from beginning through to end. You walk into Hyde Park and begin to witness the Spiegeltent in all its glory. The Spiegeltent is a wooden tent that's glorious from all angles. It includes an outdoor beer garden to get the punters ready for a night of intense creative performances. The inside of the Spiegeltent is aesthetically pleasing and reminds me of a classy French nightclub in the great 1920's ( those good old days). The venue is very intimate with seating for at most 300. This is awesome because it allows close up experience for everyone. The show began with an awesome display of a man balancing some drinks while stacking chair after chair until he reached the top of the tent . As the show went on we got to witness some acrobatic performers balance on each other's heads, throw one another across the stage. The athletic abilities of this men and women left everyone mesmerised. The performance incorporated a lot of adult themes but it was all performed in good nature but the Gazillionaire who reminded me of Beetle Guice on the good stuff. He picked on the audience and had everyone wetting themselves ( well pretty close ). The whole show was tantalising and TITalising at some points (sorry couldn't help add that one in. If your after something completely different this is a definite must see in my opinion. The whole cast knocked it out of the park. Was lucky to meet some of the cast afterwards for a Q&A with some champagne. They are tremendous people who just love what they do and rightfully so. The Gazillionaire was calling me Waldo because I choose to wear a red and white stripped top. Witty to the last. Nothing else to say other then go to see this show for yourself.

Oh. My. God! This show was incredible!! I am not a big fan of shows and musicals but this just blew…read moreme away. How can one show be so funny, so sexy and so impressive? I really didn't know what to expect but I would say that Absinthe is a mix of cabaret, cirque de Soleil and wicked comedy. You absolutely must get yourself to this show and then tell everyone about it. I really don't want to give too much away but if you like crude humour, amazing feats of human strength, sexy performers and all around amazingness then this is for you.

We enjoyed the place lots - got recommended by a friend we did not know what to expect it was…read morereally cool. Priced right and some nice food as well. We will be back for sure.

From the owner: Celebrating 12 years. Home of the BonkerZ Comedy club circuit + House of Magic Shows & Aus School…read moreof Stand up Comedy

Well now! Looky what we got here, a brand new performance space dedicated to the fine art of yucks…read more Not yucks as in "ew, gross"; yucks as in laughs, chortles, chuckles, big belly-aching tear-wringing heaves that leave you gasping for air and clutching onto the person next to you, even if that person is a stranger, or in my case a gridiron-playing ex-bouncer female comedian from Dundas, who took my insipid giggling with good grace. An old building that's got that wonderful church-y / community hall kind of feel, it lay unused for years because the owners wanted to make sure it was used for performing arts and not, say, a brothel (hi Chippendale!). Then The Chaser lads came along and breathed new life into the place and now it hosts comedy. There's a courtyard with a bar, another bar inside the venue, and you can take drinks to your seats. Now, I'm not about to put the mocker on the place and say it's the perfect comedy club, but.... I can't think of any reasons it's not. Golden.

Glad that Sydney has a club for comedy. We remember this place as the old Performance Space in the…read more90's, before they moved to Carriageworks. The venue still looks pretty much the same. Quite a spacious venue and a decent size stage. Two bars, indoors and outdoors. Reasonably priced tickets. A fun night out!

Heading out to Parramatta for the night, as you do, we drove along the M4, not sure of what to…read moreexpect, given that the Chalk Art Festival and Crave Food Festival was on that weekend, but the reason we were driving along that highway, the awards night for the 48 Hour Film Project. We got to our destination, the Riverside Theatre on Church Street. A large brick structure next to the very brown Parramatta River. Parking was an issue but as luck would have it, the 'Our Lady of Mercy' had a park just for us. Inside the theatre we looked around, the Riverside Theatre has a number of different spaces, a small stage, where they were playing the National Theatres 'One Man, Two Guv'nors' filmed production which I had seen earlier that week at the Sydney Theatre and a much larger 700 seater where our event was to be screened. Pop corn was cheap at $2 for a small bag and we took advantage of that deal, but unfortunately the beers didn't follow in this tradition, priced at $7 for a Crown, the same for a Corona and again, $7 for a VB. Which makes about as much sense as paying the same price for a rump steak as you would for the hoof. The seating was comfortable and the sound was clear. We sat on the side of the seating arrangements and could still see the screen that had been placed above the stage perfectly well. There is a smokers courtyard in the middle of the structure and plenty of restaurants and shops surrounding the space, given that it is in the centre of the town. A fine theatre with seemingly interesting productions on offer for the upcoming season, only problem is, it's quite a way out of the centre of Sydney, although Parramatta is technically the centre of Sydney, both geographically and population wise.

I've only been disappointed once when I went to the Riverside theatre and that was the play not the…read morebuilding. It's in a beautiful position next to the river in Parramatta. They have a full season of shows from comedies to mysteries and they're open most nights. I have been to several first nights there were they have served canapes but I am sure they also serve food from the bar. They're fully licenced so a quick drink before the play is available. The seats are comfortable and they have future productions listed on the boards outside. However, I would recommend the Wine and Meat Company restaurant which is conveniently located next door - a fantastic duo!

I've just started working in the area and it seems like this is the 'after work drinks' spot...it's…read morehidden away, like stepping through a portal into a strange little funky den. Definitely wouldn't have noticed it if I wasn't taken here! It's nice, cozy and definitely has some attitude for a small little place. The staff seem 'ok'...I guess (one guy was a little moody), but put your hand up at the bar to be served or they'll probably just ignore you. The paintings that adorn all the walls are pretty cool (except for the one that's upside down...fighting the OCD to turn it the right way up!!!) and the theme of always having something to look at continues to the bathrooms, us guys even get retro 50-60's topless pinup pics (most probably to take attention away from the total mess that the itty bitty bathroom is in). As I've only been on Friday's, I know happy hour is from 5-7pm with beers, wine, cocktails & jugs on the menu, all seemed to be priced ok (nowhere as cheap as places close-by like the Brighton Hotel). Be warned that they're quite strict on times, so don't show up 5 to 5 and expect happy hour prices. The range of drinks isn't massive here and most of the drinks are bottled. Outside of happy hour, the price of drinks can be pretty high. I felt like cider after a long day at work and saw that they had Rekorderlig on the menu, but for $14 a pop I'm going to pass (only $7-8 at BWS). Now, what I give the place credit for and really is a hidden gem...the pizzas. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but free pizzas with jugs were most welcome (not sure if this happens all the time). I tried the chorizo pizza which was awesome, flavourful slices of chorizo, flowing with melty cheesy goodness and on a decent thin base. I also tried the margherita but can't remember how it was...I pretty much inhaled it (my colleagues seemed to do the exact same thing). As it's so close to work, I'll probably keep hitting Cafe Lounge up on a Friday but don't really see myself trekking over from the North Shore at any other time. If you are in the area though, go lounge around, chill, have a drink and try to resist the need to stick the toy animals/dinosaurs they give you as table numbers into the giant jars with candles...(it wasn't me, seriously...).

Came Thursday night for free jazz, although in my opinion it was more oldies songs being covered…read morethan jazz. The place has a definite retro-dive feel to it. This is the kinda bar where you expect a generous pour and inexpensive drinks, but they definitely measure their shots.

Perhaps I shouldn't be declaring that I've actually had a night out here...It's something ever so…read moreslightly looked down upon by central Sydneyers!! The grottiness? The sweaty old leery men? The aging rock bands headlining there? The underage and wasted teenagers? What's not to love?! No, I did actually have a great night here as I love a good grotty night, you know? The ones where no-one is posing or taking themselves too seriously and are just out to have a good time and make a lot of noise. It's a tiny little place but the prime watering hole for anyone that's ever spent a night in Manly. Worth a visit just for the comedy of the whole thing!

One of the Last of Manly's Icons. SO many poo poo this place, Nah,…read moreI have no Idea what people are looking for, Its relaxing, so the music may be hit n miss, but the staff are always friendly and the patrons are easy as. If you cant talk to anyone here, you've got a social disease. I love this place and as a Manly local, I frequent this place. LOVE IT!