SYDNEY is about to become a lot less amusing following the closure of two of the city's highest-profile comedy venues.

The Comedy Store in Parramatta heard its last punchline last week and the future of The Comedy Store in The Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park is also under a cloud.

Both venues are operated by Mick Roche, a comedy-scene stalwart, who bought the Moore Park business in 2003 and opened the Parramatta venue earlier this year.

Mr Roche has confirmed the closure of the Parramatta venue - just two weeks after its gala opening - but declined to comment on the future of the original store, which has been based at several venues since 1981.

The Comedy Store's website could not be accessed yesterday and Mr Roche did not return the Herald's phone calls.

A Sydney talent agent, Andrew Taylor, who represents comedians such as Peter Berner, Greg Fleet, Fiona O'Loughlin and Tommy Dean, said he had spoken to Mr Roche and "as far as I'm aware it's [The Comedy Store] dead".

Mr Taylor said the loss of the Moore Park venue was a huge pity. "It will leave a huge gap as it was easily the best comedy venue in the country in terms of its layout."

The closures will hit the nation's top comedians. "They're not going to get as much work; it's as simple as that," Mr Taylor said.

Darren Sanders, a comedian and co-director of The Laugh Garage in Parramatta, said the area was too small to support two comedy venues. But he believes Sydney's appetite for comedy is still strong and is confident a second Laugh Garage on the corner of Park and Elizabeth streets in the city will be a success when it opens in September.

"I don't think this [the closures] is about people not wanting to see comedy; it's about business," he said.

The comedy market's strength was confirmed by Karen Laing, the comedy club manager at A-List Entertainment, who said there had been an increase in inquiries from venues seeking to set up regular comedy nights.