Support is growing for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to reinstate ‘The Barry Award’ in honour of the late Barry Humphries, with an online petition clocking over 2000 signatures.
Mill Park resident and freelance writer Vanessa de Largie created the petition. She said the award must be reinstated following the recent death of Humphries as a tribute to the contributions he made to Australia’s entertainment industry.
“He was a one-off. A comic genius. And he continuously created his own work,” she said.
“I think most performers, myself included, would find Humphries artistic journey inspiring to say the least.”
Humphries co-founded the festival in 1987, and since 2000, ‘The Barry Award’ was presented to the best comedy show at the festival. However in 2019, the title was stripped and renamed ‘The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award’ following backlash over Humphries’ comments about transgender people.
Ms de Largie said regardless of whether you agree with Humphries’ opinions or not is beside the point.
“We are living in these strange times where people aren’t given the space and freedom to have their own thoughts and opinions,” she said.
“… It is a scary climate for any artist. The whole point of art is to provoke and discuss ideas. Censorship of any kind is always dangerous.
Known for his iconic character, Dame Edna Everage, Humphries died in the same week that the 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival was finishing up for another year.
Details: www.change.org/p/bring-back-the-barry-award-at-the-melbourne-comedy-festival
Hannah Hammoud
