REVIEW: Nouveau Rhys: Rhys Mathewson (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 13, 2016

[Side-Step] One of the challenges for comedians is keeping things fresh while maintaining the thing that makes them funny. Whether that thing is a particular style or further exploration of reoccurring subject matter, you can’t rely on the basis that just because an audience found them funny once, or even multiple times, that they will find them funny again. Rhys Mathewson is […]

REVIEW: Keep Out of my Box: Torum Heng (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 13, 2016

[Greatness Unboxed] “Torum Heng is the best.” This statement ran through my head, from the moment I sat down and noted the inverted ‘C’ in the ‘Box Office’ sign. This statement continued to run on a loop over the next hour, as Ms Heng ran through a series of characters and musical numbers so well realised and perfectly pitched that […]

REVIEW: Brinestorm: Alice Brine (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 12, 2016

[Force of Comedy] For some comedians, the date by which they’re required to submit a show title to the New Zealand International Comedy Festival occurs well before they’ve had the chance to consider the exact content of the work. Brinestorm, however, could not be a more appropriate name for Billy T Award nominee Alice Brine. Embracing her ADHD, Brine takes us […]

REVIEW: Pressure Makes Diamonds: Laura Daniel (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 12, 2016

[Diamond Precision] The pressure is on for Laura Daniel. Having successfully demonstrated her comedic skills on television, worked snippets of material through Raw Comedy nights at The Classic, as well as clocking countless hours of improv with Snort, the live comedy world awaits her first solo comedy show – as a Billy T Award nominee no less – but Daniel […]

REVIEW: Eli Matthewson (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 9, 2016

[You Won’t Believe what Matt Baker says about Eli Matthewson in this Review] Having trained as an actor and worked as a writer for Funny Girls, and Jono and Ben, it makes perfect sense that 2015 Billy T Award nominated comedian Eli Matthewson, under the direction of theatrical daredevil Kip Chapman, would step from straight stand up to sketch comedy […]

REVIEW: The Crown Prince: Joel Creasey (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 8, 2016

[Fame Awaits] Joel Creasey wants to be famous, and so far he’s doing rather well. The Australian comedian has been successfully performing since his debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2010, garnering nominations and performing to sell-out crowds throughout Australia. That fame, however, has yet to reach New Zealand shores. Having seen Creasey perform previously at the Classic, […]

REVIEW: Red Bastard (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 4, 2016

[Hold your nerve] My anxiety levels rapidly increased as it got closer to 7:15pm. Going to theatre is normally the most natural thing for me, an everyday routine. But this time I was genuinely apprehensive. Why? I knew Red Bastard was interactive. I knew that there probably would be some abuse thrown out at us, considering the title character is based […]

REVIEW: Le Comique (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 2, 2016

[Merde Oui!!!] Le Comique definitely offers an eclectic mix of comedic performances during this 2 ½-hour-show.  The charming and hilarious caricature of a Frenchman, Marcel Lucont is fabulous at the helm as he keeps us entertained between acts.  He also has the uncanny knack of sucking in the audience, endearing himself more and more as the night progresses. Lucont was […]

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