This event is part of the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Tales from a Little Laughing Lesbian is an electrifying one-woman show packed with stand-up, improv and clowning, all delivered through Em’s signature energy and joy. From therapy to parenting, marriage to motorbikes, no topic is off-limits in this hilarious journey of self-discovery. Uplifting, bold and wildly funny, this is a show for everyone (yes, even non-lesbians!). So, are you ready to laugh, reflect and maybe even see yourself in a whole new way?

Audiences from the UK tour described the evening as “funny, warm and thought-provoking”, with many saying they “didn’t want it to end”. Another audience member said they left feeling “inspired and life-affirmed”, while another shared that they were “face aching from watching the audience participation”.

Em Stoud is proud to be coming over to Melbourne International Comedy Festival from the UK. She has been performing for over 20 years and has done two TEDx talks (one as a banana) as well as writing the book Lessons From a Clown. She has performed all across the UK and Edinburgh Festival as part of her own impro group and part of Improbotics.

An uplifting and very funny show about how being brave and taking yourself out of your comfort zone will help you discover who you really are and how from there you can do anything.

Straight from a UK national tour! (Yes I am a Pom! My wife is a Melboune local!) Directed by Didi Hopkins (who’s worked with Eddie Izzard and Miles Jupp).

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Underground Comedy is an independent pop-up venue at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre for MICF 2026. The program of shows at Underground Comedy promises to honour the legacy that QVWC has created over the years with their involvement with MICF. Supporting women, femme, trans and gender diverse artists and their allies.

It is an intimate 30 seat space that fills a gap in the independent venue scene. The slate of shows includes the return of the much beloved comedy trio ‘Watson’ and a hand picked selection of local, interstate and international comedians.