The third Contentious Character Comedy Debate promises to be a riotously silly evening. Photo: Supplied.
Who deserves a happy ending? Villains? Politicians? Canberrans? Does everyone deserve a happy ending?
To answer the big questions of our time, Contentious Character winery is hosting the third event in its Contentious Comedy Debate series. It will mark the first time in the winery’s new cellar door location in Dairy Road – and the line-up promises a cracker of a night!
Contentious Character managing director Ben Jarett told Region this style of event fitted into the ethos of its urban winery brand.
“Here at Contentious Character we don’t like to take ourselves too seriously,” he said. “We’re all about being a bit playful and so the comedy debate really brings everything together – food, wine and being a little bit contentious!”
The debate will take place at Contentious Character’s urban winery in Fyshwick. Photo: Supplied.
“Self-proclaimed creative uber genius”, writer and comedian Tom Gibson will again moderate this year’s debate. Local comedian Tanya Losanno will head up the affirmative team. Tanya is also a marriage celebrant, so knows a thing or two about happy endings!
On her team is Suma Iyer, who represented the ACT at the 2024 RAW comedy final, and character comedian Chris Marlton.
On the negative side, Thank God You’re Here cast member Carlo Ritchie will be arguing that everyone does not deserve a happy ending. He’s alongside Canberra locals: comedian and storyteller Sarah Stewart and electrician-turned-comedian Caitlin Maggs, a RAW comedy finalist in 2021.
“I think being a woman in trades has definitely made me believe that a lot of people don’t deserve happy endings and I think I’ve met most of them!” Caitlin told Region.
“I think our team has a good plan: we’re all coming at it from different directions. I’m not sure what the affirmative team is going to say, but I feel confident that they’ll be wrong!”
Caitlin and Sarah have a teamwork advantage – the two have just finished a run at the Sydney Fringe Festival with their joint show Before & After.
There will be two sittings for the comedy debate event – one for the show and drinks, the other including dinner. Photo: Supplied.
As for where the debate may take them, Ben said it was anyone’s guess!
“The fun thing about working with comedians is that you never really know what they’re going to say! It’s such a diverse group of comedians, and I often see with events like this that the audience will also really fuel the conversation.”
Previous debates have covered equally important questions including: Is wine better than sex? And the event has proven a popular format, so Ben advised booking early was essential.
There will be two sittings. An early show at 6 pm, more of a casual after-work drinks vibe, and a late show starting from 7.30 pm which includes a two-course meal.
Guests can choose between three main dishes when booking and the chefs have created an indulgent dessert to match the theme of the debate – a decadent trio chocolate fondue featuring strawberries, bananas, waffles and marshmallows.
Now that’s a happy ending!
Who knows what the comedians will make of that!
The comedy debate is held in collaboration with the Canberra Comedy Festival on 1 November at Contentious Character, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick.
Bookings essential. Follow Contentious Character on Instagram.
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