Fremantle Comedy Factory

Canadian-Aussie, Tor Snyder, established the comedy event in 2014 as a platform for aspiring comics.

Today, it remains one of the only regular open mic comedy nights in the Western Australian capital, hosted at Fremantle's historic Federal Hotel every Thursday night.

For just $5, you'll see around dozen comics of all levels, from newbies to more established acts, testing out new material in front of a live crowd, led by a pro-MC to keep the night smoothly rolling along.

The Factory is now run by Brendan Maloney, who's honest about what you can expect from a typical line-up: "You'll have some acts that you never want to see again, and then some of them will blow you away," he explains, "and then everything in between!"

Having dived into stand-up in Melbourne, becoming involved in the WA comedy scene was only natural when Brendan moved to Perth with his wife, a local, in 2017. "I stopped doing comedy because I wasn't that great but loved being around it and running rooms. So, I came to Perth with that in mind."

He began his westside comedy hosting career first at the Comedy Lounge in central Perth before taking the reins at the Oasis Comedy Club upstairs at the Brisbane Hotel (which he still runs today). And now the Fremantle Comedy Factory - so needless to say, he knows who's who in the Perth comedy scene.

But the Factory is also about giving newcomers a chance.

There'll be two or three first-timers on the bill any given night. Yet for your fiver entry fee, you may also get to see national or international success stories - recent appearances include Becky Lucas and Sam Campbell - as well as rising local stars.

The Factory shows attract a diverse crowd, from students and backpackers to retirees. The range of comics means everyone enjoys something, says Brendan, and no one ever leaves feeling ripped off.

"I think it's great value for money. You never know what you're gonna get. Sometimes it can be quite bad, but the badness only lasts for about five minutes, and then you'll see something good."

Since late 2020 the Factory has called the Federal Hotel in Fremantle home. A recent revamp has given the spacious venue that perfect balance of heritage charm and fresh modern interiors - and best of all, on Thursday nights, they do half price main meals.

And you think you're funny?

Reach out to Brendan for an opportunity to start your stand-up career, though there's often a waitlist. But he says, "We give everyone a shot. That's the point. At least one shot. And unless you're a racist or misogynist or sexist, then pretty much anything goes, and you'll always get another chance if you bomb the first one."

Discover more ways to explore Fremantle in our SUBLIME section.

Photo credit: Chelsea Hayes