VICTORIA'S COVID-19 restrictions have played havoc with the Newcastle Comedy Festival, but managing director Andrew Milos is confident the show will still deliver big laughs.
Newcastle-raised comedian Rhys Nicholson, as well as fellow Victorian-based performers Nazeem Hussein, Aaron Gocs, Nick Capper, Nick Cody and Tom Ballard withdrew from the festival due to border restrictions.
The second edition of the festival will still be headlined by Rove McManus, Becky Lucas, Andy Saunders, puppet Randy Feltface and also features performances from Nikki Britton, Cameron Duggan, Alex Jae, and Elliott Stewart.
The Sunday shows will be hosted by Newcastle-bred comedian Cameron James.
"There are some big names there [that we've lost], but there was no other way around it," Milos said.
"Hopefully the public will be sympathetic and can realise this is the world we're living in."
To cater for COVID-safe restrictions the festival has pivoted and reformatted its program with 750-capacity 3pm and 8pm shows scheduled for the Civic Theatre on November 21 and 22.
Tickets go on sale Tuesday from the Civic Theatre ticket office.
