Funny old world: the best comedy festivals

Lucy Hunter Johnston has a laugh at the best comedy festivals around the globe and finds the perfect place to stay while there...

IRISH CHARM Kilkenny
The (very) small medieval town of Kilkenny in southern Ireland might seem an unlikely venue for a world-class comedy festival but every June Bank Holiday weekend since 1994 it has played host to just that - The Cat Laughs. Originally set up to showcase the best of homegrown talent, the boutique festival grew rapidly, and the list of past performers now reads like a who's who of the international comedy circuit: Bill Bailey, Dylan Moran, Simon Amstell, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Fry (right) and Eddie Murphy are just a handful of big names who have graced the stages of intimate boozers in town. The small scale of the festival and its venues makes it a great opportunity to see the stars perform up close. There's also a fun bit of healthy rivalry, with an annual football match on the Sunday afternoon between the Irish comedians and 'The Rest of The World'. Depending on who you ask, last year Ireland either won 5-2, or lost 15-3. From 2-6 June 2012;thecatlaughs.com

Where to stay In the heart of Kilkenny sits the ivy-clad Butler House, part of the Kilkenny Castle estate and former home to the Earls of Ormonde who lived here for over 500 years. The Georgian house is famous for its charming walled garden, sweeping staircases and huge fireplaces. The 13 bedrooms each have original features and the best rooms overlook the magnificent
Kilkenny Castle itself. butler.ie

CANADA DRY Montreal

Just for Laughs is the ultimate stand-up showcase. Thousands of comedy devotees flock here in July to be amused by one of the 500 comedians. Performances take place all across the Canadian city and the Latin Quarter is transformed into a buzzing open-air theatre with shows popping up on street corners. Selection for Montreal is a major opportunity for up-and-coming comedians; several big names have been discovered here, including Jerry Seinfeld, who stole the show at one of the first festivals in 1985. In 1989 Brit favourite Rowan Atkinson baffled the organisers by insisting that his show was billed on the French-speaking platform - only later did they realise that he was using the festival to try out the physical comedy of a new silent character on a non-English speaking crowd - and Mr Bean was born. July 2012; hahaha.com

Where to stay The Parisian-style boutique bolthole Le Petit Hôtel is 'petit' indeed, with just 24 rooms, and tucked away in Montreal's historic district. Rooms vary in size, from the very modest to vast loft rooms complete with soaring cathedral-style ceilings. All the rooms rock a look that is pure modern European chic, with wooden floors, exposed brick walls and grand platform beds. petithotelmontreal.com

RETURN TO OZ Melbourne
Barry 'Dame Edna' Humphries and Peter Cook launched the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 1987 and it now draws vast crowds. Its laid-back Aussie vibe perhaps explains why in 1998 Simon Morley and David Friend chose the festival to unleash their 'Puppetry of the Penis' act on unsuspecting comedy fans. Their genital contortions were the surprise success of the festival. Melbourne has seen its fair share of mainstream acts, too, including Johnny Vegas, Jenny Eclair and Stewart Lee. 28 March - 22 April 2012; comedyfestival.com.au

Where to stay From the outside, the trio of Art Series hotels dotted around the heart of Melbourne might not look like much, but inside it's a different story. Each boutique hotel is inspired by, and named after, one of Australia's most famous artists. The theme carries through to the bedrooms, which are decorated with original artworks and prints by the artists. Choose the sprawling penthouses of The Cullen, the glass-bottomed pool at The Olsen or the private terrace suites at The Blackman. Tough choice. artserieshotels.com.au/hotels

STATE OF PLAY New York
Although a relatively new arrival on the circuit (it was founded in 2004), the New York Comedy Festival already packs a serious punch. On the bill this year (the festival is this weekend) are Sarah Silverman, Russell Peters, Wanda Sykes and Kathy Griffin (who is rumoured to be planning on flashing her audience this year). Last year's stand-out performance came from Ricky Gervais, whose slightly 'off-colour' jokes shocked the Carnegie Hall audience, particularly the part where he demonstrated how many men he'd been obliged to pleasure before being allowed on stage Luckily the set ended with a more family-friendly rendition of 'New York, New York', performed as a duet with Sesame Street's Elmo. November 2012; nycomedyfestival.com

Where to stay Just around the corner from Times Square, The Chatwal is housed in a restored 1905 building recently revamped by architect and designer Thierry Despont. The interior remains true to its Art Deco roots, with groovy modern touches such as suede-covered walls, leather wardrobes and lashings of sleek chrome. Suites come with a private bar, bespoke cocktail set, backgammon board, and 42-inch plasma televisions.
thechatwalny.com