Storytellers’ Club bills itself as a place for people who like stories but it really is much more than that. It is the Whitman’s sampler of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, a handy cheat sheet of comics. Can’t decide who to see this year? Stick your head in to the club and you will be treated to a fireside get-together that keeps you grinning.

The nature of the setup, comics telling stories along a set theme is its strongest selling point, much credit to the clubs creator, Sarah Bennetto. Because of the themes, comics are forced to create new material rather than just recycle parts of their current shows. As a result you get the flavour and style of every performer without running the risk of having to sit through it again at their own show.

Opening night was Spooky Stories with host and narrator Sarah Bennetto introducing such friends as Josie Long, James Dowdeswell, Danny McGinlay, Maeve Higgins and Alison Bice. London based Bennetto has managed to rope in a lot of her UK friends, making this is a great way to see a lot of international comics cheaply. James Dowdeswell made school shootings an outing of laughs, Maeve Higgins found gags no matter how off the topic she veered and Josie Long, lovely as ever, shined with tales of her own night terrors. On every Friday night of the festival, Storytellers’ Club is a perfect primer for the comedy fan. Upcoming shows include:

Trave and Adventure with Brendon Burns, Yianni Agisilaou, Josh Earl and Dave Bushell. 10th April.

Family and Childhood tales with Sarah Millican (UK), Richard McKenzie, James Dowdeswell (UK), Courteney Hocking and Tommy Dassalo 17th April.

Love Stories with Josie Long (UK), Lawrence Leung, Geraldine Hickey and Louise Sanz 24th April.

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