Rainbow Festival Comedy Night: Rhys Nicholson and Kirsty Webeck bring the laughs to Orange Function Centre, March 21

Multi-award-winning stand-up Rhys Nicholson and festival-favourite Kirsty Webeck are bringing the laughs to the 2025 Rainbow Festival with a huge night of top-tier comedy at the Orange Function Centre on Friday, March 21.

Rhys Nicholson is a stand-up, writer, and actor, with an enormous passion for live performing. Their work continues to receive awards and accolades around the world, with televised stand-up performances in Australia, the UK, and Canada. Alongside a booming stand-up career, Rhys has also become a favourite across our small screens, as a series regular in the Sci-Fi comedy The Imperfects (Netflix), a recurring role in Fisk (Netflix) and on all four seasons of Drag Race Down Under (Stan), as well as featuring as a contestant on Network 10’s Taskmaster Australia, and the re-boot of Thank God You’re Here.

Joining Rhys in Orange is Kirsty Webeck, well-known for her upbeat and relatable comedy often described as playful, light-hearted, and fun. A gifted storyteller, Kirsty has a natural ability for turning the mundane into the hilarious and has quickly become one of the most popular Australian comedians in the industry.

“We’re super excited to be part of the Rainbow Festival,” promoter Nick Gleeson of Central West Comedy said.

“Rhys has been here before with Joel Creasy, and we had two sold-out shows which were fantastic! Rhys is phenomenal. They are just a very sharp, witty stand-up, and they'll be headlining the show.

“Kirsty Webeck — both her shows for the Canberra Comedy Festival have sold out I'm told, and so we are excited to see what she brings to Orange!”

Bringing a night of stand-up to the Orange Function Centre will be a first for Central West Comedy, which has grown from monthly gigs at local cafe Factory Espresso to bringing comedy shows to Bathurst, Molong, Dubbo, Tamworth, and Armidale.

But with big plans for the future, Nick said it won't be the last time they use the large-capacity function centre.

“We thought this is a good opportunity to see how that space works for us because in the future… Central West Comedy, we want to attract larger artists, and some won't always do a 150-seater like at Factory,” Nick said.

“We've got other larger acts coming later in the year, which will be in that space, so it's actually very exciting!”

While Nick wasn’t ready to spill the beans on all the big names coming to town this year, he did reveal that Orange favourites Tom Gleeson and Justin Hamilton will be back to perform together in June. 

“Justin's been up at least four or five times, and every time he brings a new set and he just kills!” Nick said.

“And Tom’s working on a new show, so Orange will actually see brand-new material before anybody else, which is exciting!”

And those attending the Rainbow Festival Comedy Show will get the first chance to buy tickets for Tom Gleeson and Justin Hamilton in June.

“We’re going to release a small portion of those tickets for the audience at the Rainbow Festival,” Nick said, adding that tickets will also be available soon via the Central West Comedy website.

For tickets to the Rainbow Festival comedy night featuring Rhys Nicholson and Kirsty Webeck on Friday, March 21, simply scan the QR code or visit centralwestcomedy.com.au