The Cairns Sit Down Comedy Club has been selected by Triple J and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to host the first ever RAW heats in far north Queensland.

This is the first time a state heat has been held outside of Brisbane in the 15 year history of the largest open-mic completion in Australia.

Previous winners of RAW include Josh Thomas, Hannah Gatsby, Tim Minchen and Chris Franklin. 

Chris Franklin was living on the streets of Melbourne when he got his first break in comedy, he was handed a microphone and told he had five minutes of stage time.

Six months later he won the prestigious RAW trophy. Chris had sell out shows at Edinburgh Fringe Festival that year. He will be performing at the Cairns Sit Down Comedy Club on Saturday 17 December

2011 along with regional performers who are entering the competition.

“There are already three locals signed up and no doubt there will be more soon,” said Melinda Norris Producer of Cairns Sit Down Comedy Club.

The Far North Queensland heats will be held on Friday 17 February 2012 in Cairns and all details and info can be found at www.festivalsupnorth.com. 

Winners of the Cairns heat go to the state finals in Brisbane, then to Melbourne for the Grand Final on 12 April that will be televised on ABC TV.  The overall winner receives an all-expense paid trip to the Edinburgh Fringe to perform.

“We feel honoured to now be part of the whole Melbourne International Comedy Festival family only after seven months of producing comedy in Cairns," Ms Norris said."This is great for Cairns and the region."  

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