think you've got what it takes?
take your comedy career to the next level.
Next Gen Comedy is WA’s premier live, audience-voted comedy competition — discovering the state’s best emerging stand-up talent.
Presented by the City of Stirling in partnership with WA Comedy.
If you’re ready to perform in front of real audiences and prove your material, apply to be part of this year’s lineup.
Previous winners including Suns of Fred, Joe White, Ciaran Lyons and Ian Burke have gone on to establish themselves on the WA and national comedy circuit — making Next Gen Comedy a proven pathway for new talent.
Why apply for next gen comedy?
- Perform in a professionally run show in front of a live, engaged audience
- Compete for $2,250 in prize money:
- $1,500 First Prize
(Plus a paid spot at WA Comedy All-Stars show with ongoing mentoring) - $500 Second Prize
- $250 Third Prize
- All participants receive a $50 performance fee (this is unique to Next Gen)
- Test and refine your best material under real pressure
- Be considered for future WA Comedy bookings — with past contestants going on to perform at shows like the WA Fresh Comedy Showcase, Side Splitter Comedy Festival, and Bunbury Fringe Comedy Gala
KEY Dates
Applications Close
Wednesday April 22 — 5:00pm
Participants Announced
Monday April 27
Free Comedy Workshop (Optional)
Sunday May 10
Heats
Saturday June 13 — Stirling Community Centres (Inglewood)
Saturday June 20 — Osborne Park Bowling Club
Grand Final
Saturday June 27 — Stirling Leisure Centres (Hamersley)
IMPORTANT STUFF
- Must be 18+ (Next Gen Comedy is open to adults of all ages)
- Must not have earned more than $10,000 + GST from live stand-up comedy across your career
- Must have been performing stand-up comedy for no more than 5 years
- Must have an ABN to receive payment (performance fee and any prize money are paid via invoice)
- Must be available for your allocated heat and the Grand Final if selected
- Must be willing to actively promote your involvement in Next Gen Comedy
Please note:
Places are limited and lineups are curated to ensure high-quality shows. WA Comedy reserves the right to make final decisions on comedian selection, scheduling, and placement.
- Up to 12 participants per heat across 4 heats
- Each participant will be allocated a heat and given 5 minutes to perform their best material
- The audience votes for the best performance in each heat
- 2 participants from each heat progress to the Grand Final
- Up to 4 wild cards may be issued by WA Comedy to acts deemed unlucky not to progress or who demonstrate strong potential
- The Grand Final is decided entirely by audience vote. In the event of a draw, the prize will be split
- All heats and the Grand Final will be professionally photographed and filmed. By participating, you consent to photography and videography being captured and shared
- All material must be original and must not include racism, homophobia, sexism, or hate speech
- Material should be performance-ready — avoid relying on excessive swearing in place of punchlines
- Disparaging comments about WA Comedy, Next Gen Comedy, or the City of Stirling are not permitted
- Performers who abandon their set unreasonably early or deliberately sabotage their performance will not receive a performance fee
- If you need to cancel your set, you must notify the organiser with at least 72 hours’ notice
- Attend the free comedy workshop and information session
(Sunday May 10, 4:00–5:30pm — Stirling Leisure Inglewood Community Centre, 895 Beaufort Street) - Be original — avoid clichés and overused material
- Start and finish with your strongest jokes
- Practice your set in advance, both at home and in front of live audiences
- Get straight into your material — avoid long introductions
- Keep your set tight and punchy (aim for a laugh every 15–20 seconds)
- Make the most of your 5 minutes — every second counts
- Returning performers are encouraged to bring updated or refined material
- Perform with confidence and enjoy the experience
This is a live audience competition — strong, well-prepared sets will stand out.