Melbourne comedian Tim Minchin has won the prestigious Perrier Award for Best Newcomer at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Perrier Award for Best Comedy Show was created in 1981 and is the most coveted comedy prize in the world.

The Best Newcomer category was added in 1992 and is open to any original cabaret, comedy, sketch or stand-up act longer than fifty minutes performed by someone that hasn't already achieved star status. Minchin also received Australian acclaim earlier this year for his act Darkside.

Combining music, comedy, poetry, his stage performance won the Director's Choice award at the 2005 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Tim Minchin is "a brilliant virtuoso pianist" bright, quirky and hugely entertaining... It's the sort of all-round package of genius that could drive other comics furious with envy "Impeccable stuff."CHORTLE.CO.UK

Laugh-A-Poolooza also features performances from:

Scared Weird Little Guys
Eddie Perfect
Paul McDermott and GUD
Sista She
The Bedroom Philosopher
Andrew Hansen (The Chaser)
Sammy J
Josh Earl
The Renegades of Folk