The show was in high demand with ticket allocations exhausted weeks in advance.

“We knew that this would be one of the most popular shows of the festival,” CO.AS.IT. general manager Thomas Camporeale said.  

“We are proud to be able to put on events of this quality for the community to enjoy at no cost.”

Joe Avati is a second-generation Italian born and bred in Australia.

He has become a firm fixture on the Australian comedy circuit and received a warm reception when he stepped out on stage at the Italian Forum Cultural Centre.

“Dad was born in Italy and Mum was born here in Australia, her parents were from Italy,” Avati said.

“My upbringing provided a lot of comic material.

“I generally don’t know what I am going to say before the show, which keeps it interesting for me and the audience.”

Anthony Locascio is one of the Sydney comedy scene’s fastest rising stars and he’s a two-time NSW Raw Comedy State Finalist.

His heritage is a combination of Italian and Greek.

“People always ask me if I feel more Italian or more Greek and I really do not know how to answer that question,” Locascio said.

Avati and Locascio had the crowd in stiches for the duration of the show, with the audience feeling a strong connection to the stories of growing up Italian.

The show touched on universal themes such as generational differences, a love of food and the migrant experience.

“It was wonderful to hear the Italian Forum Cultural Centre erupt with laughter,” Camporeale said.

“From the feedback we have received everyone really enjoyed the show.”

The “CULTURA” festival was scheduled to run from January until April 2020, featuring five shows hosted at the Italian Forum Cultural Centre, in the heart of Sydney’s “Little Italy”.

Due to the current situation the two final shows – scheduled for March 19 and April 2 – have been postponed.

“Due to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) placing a ban against holding non-essential, organised public gatherings in light of global health concerns regarding COVID-19, we regret to share that the final two shows of the ‘CULTURA’, Italian Cultural Festival 2020 will be postponed,” Camporeale confirmed.

It’s unclear whether the events will take place at a later date.