The Seven Best Alternative Comedy Rooms in Sydney

A day without laughter is a day wasted, which works out well for comedy rooms around Sydney looking to sell out shows and fill out insurance claims for patrons whose sides have split from the funnies on-stage.

Whilst there are copious clubs dedicated to your regular serving of stand-up, there are also a number of alternative, lesser-known and uniquely hilarious shows and events across the harbour city ready to leave you with a breathless stitch. Concrete Playground has laughed (and cringed) at a range of them to bring you the best seven non-stand-up comedy events in Sydney.

Story Club

Story Club is the wonderful grown-up version of a bedtime story. The best storytellers around read their (often) true stories to avid audiences in the club's new Surry Hills home, The Raval, on the third Wednesday of every month. And with each new evening hosting a brand-new theme, the material is always fresh and hilarious. Adding to the majesty are the the ornate story throne and enormous book the authors read from. Curated and hosted by the affable Ben Jenkins and hilariously dark Zoe Norton Lodge (The Hamster Wheel), Story Club is the most honest and hilarious evening of comedy available in Sydney and will crank the LOL factor up to ten.

The Raval, 1/42 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills.

Full Body Contact No Love Tennis

Full Body Contact No Love Tennis delivers hands down Sydney's best long-form improvisation. Performing upstairs every Tuesday at the Roxbury Hotel in Glebe, a rotating cast of improvisers perform alongside fan favourites including creator Cale Bain and Steen Raskopoulos (winner of the Sydney Comedy Festival's Best Newcomer Award) create hilarious scenes from your audience suggestions that will never be seen again. Regarding the mouthful of a name: don't worry, it barely makes sense even to the initiated, but it sure does add charm.

The Roxbury, 180/182 St Johns Road, Glebe.

Sydney Fringe Festival

Sydney's favourite festival of eclectic performances is about to begin, running from September 6-29, 2013, meaning that there is a glut of alternative comedy to check out. Whether it is The Human Jukebox skills of Benny Davis; MotherFather's newest comedy cavalcade, DoctorDoctor; Pat Magee's brave attempt to stage Every Episode of Doctor Who Ever Live on Stage in an hour; or the Game of Thrones-themed sketch show Make Way For Winter, there is plenty to enjoy without having to watch one person stand at a microphone.

Club Cab Sav

The secret to humour is surprise. With these famous words of Aristotle in mind, Club Cab Sav is a comedy night all about surprising its audience. Club Cab Sav offers its patrons an alternative take on the traditional night of laughs. Expect to see a mixed bag of entertainment experiments, laugh-inducing comedy and an eclectic palette of performances on the last Wednesday of every month at FBi Social, all for just $10.

FBi Social, Level 2, Kings Cross Hotel, 244-248 William Street, Kings Cross.

Project 52

Project 52 is Sydney University's home of comedy, playing host to a rotating roster of formats that includes one of Sydney's last sketch shows, Make Way for Ducklings; Sydney's best young improvisers at Improv Den; themed trivia nights; and Christmas Spooktaculars. Performing out of Sydney University's Hermanns Bar, the guys behind P52 clearly have you covered for a stand-up alternative (but they also have a stand-up night), and all are welcome to enjoy one of Sydney's best comedy rooms curated by Sydney comedy regulars Michael Hing, Steen Raskopoulos and Ben Jenkins — correct, it was the birthplace of Story Club.

Hermanns Bar, University of Sydney, Cnr City Road & Butlin Avenue Butlin Avenue, Darlington.

Theatresports

Theatresports has always been a Sydney stalwart but it has experienced a resurgence in recent years. 2012 saw a surge in crowds attending the Cranston Cup, the state's most prestigious theatresports competition, and it's winners, MotherFather, deservedly went on to be crowned national champions. With this year's Cranston Cup only a month or so away from beginning, excitement is building.

Erotic Fan Fiction

Whether it is delving into the wonderful world of Harry Potter and exploring the Ministry of Magic's Department of Mysteries, which happens to be a sex dungeon, or enjoying the sordid tales of Buffy the Vampire Layer, erotic fan fiction is funny. So imagine an entire evening dedicated to it. Whilst it does not have a regular night in Sydney, this adds to the allure, making it a must-see when it climbs out of bed to amuse and arouse audiences at events such as Penguin Plays Rough, Late Night Library, Story Club and the Sydney Writers' Festival.