REVIEW: Inner Dialogue (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 24, 2018

[Tears of a Clown] A man walks into a doctor’s office and says, “Doctor, I’m depressed.” The doctor says, “Treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him, that should cheer you up.” The man bursts into tears and says, “But doctor, I am Pagliacci.” Who makes the clowns laugh? It’s a variation on […]

REVIEW: Matt Okine: The Hat Game (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 23, 2018

[A Fine Balance] With his laid-back presence and intelligent humour, Matt Okine’s latest show is a highly watchable evening of stand-up. With just the right brand of Australian colloquialism, Okine’s manner translates well to our Kiwi stages without unnecessary pandering. In between the jokes Okine masterfully weaves something like a rags to riches story into the tapestry of his material. […]

REVIEW: Guy Williams: I Wanna Hear what I Have to Say (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 19, 2018

[One Guy on Stage] Guy Williams is a household name that most Kiwis recognise by now, particularly being of Jono and Ben fame. His comedy career spanning almost a decade has been nothing short of impressive, making him a regular at the NZ Comedy International Festival in Auckland and Wellington. Hence expectations were high at opening night.  But for some reason we […]

REVIEW: Brendan Green: My Mates Dave (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 19, 2018

[Mate!] If you’ve been paying attention to the NZ Comedy, bets are you’ve heard of Brendon Green. His list of credits is pretty impressive – he’s written for TV’s 7 days and The Project, he’s written and performed multiple stand up shows that have toured NZ and internationally, and he has also mentored upcoming young comedians in the Class Comedians […]

REVIEW: Donna Brookbanks: You Do You Babes (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 18, 2018

[Put Your Hands Up] Auckland seems to be teeming with strong female comedians this year. Donna Brookbanks is a prime example: not only funny, but incredibly multifaceted. Nominated for this year’s Billy T award, Brookbanks is back with her ‘sort of’ inspirational comedy show You Do You Babes. Brookbanks isn’t here to mess around; from the moment the doors open […]

REVIEW: Melanie Bracewell: Melodrama (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 18, 2018

[Green Light] Melanie Bracewell is quickly carving out a path in the NZ comedy scene with her impressive list of credits at only 22 years old. You might know her from The Project, 7 Days or from her time on Radio Hauraki, and in 2018 Bracewell is stepping onto the stage for her hour-long comedy festival show: Melodrama. Bracewell is […]

REVIEW: Brynley Stent & Rhiannon McCall: “Why Does This Feel So Good?” (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 17, 2018

[Bad Education] Playing exaggerated versions of themselves, Brynley Stent and Rhiannon McCall use high school sexual education as the subject of their comedy show. Treating us as a high school students, the evening is structured simply but effectively (Puberty, Sex, Birth, Sexuality and Gender Equality), though often derailing itself with comedic asides and character drama to great effect. While the […]

REVIEW: Alice Snedden: Self Titled: Volume II (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 17, 2018

[A Room of her Own] Billy T nominee Alice Snedden serves up a platter of anecdotes and observations that will have you in stitches. Loosely tied by the “problem” of her unflinching confidence, we are taken on a wild ride down memory lane, covering past and recent events that have made Snedden who she is today. Despite being unfamiliar with […]

REVIEW: Chris Parker: Camp Binch (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 12, 2018

[Nostalgia Extravaganza] Chris Parker has mastered the art of self-deprecation and personal storytelling, taking the audience on an emotional detour through his childhood. Camp Binch is a brilliant underdog story of growing up in Christchurch, not just as a gay kid, but also simply as an outsider. Equipped with a ridiculous wig and a black sequin backdrop, Parker skillfully avoids […]

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