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      IT: Chapter Two review: bigger budget, bigger run-time, bigger scares

      Shawn Moodie
      September 5, 2019
      Entertainment, Film, Spotlight
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    • SIX60 ‘When The Lights Go Out’ Premiere

      Chontalle Musson
      November 28, 2020

    • We Will Rock You: The Musical – Interview with David Mackie

      Shawn Moodie
      August 20, 2019

    • INTERVIEW: Jack Jones on ‘All You Need Is Love’

      Shawn Moodie
      July 23, 2019
    • 10

      In Review: ONCE The Musical

      Shawn Moodie
      July 2, 2019

    • In Review: The Wolves

      Shawn Moodie
      June 24, 2019

    • The 2019 Pacific Dance Festival is finally here!

      Shawn Moodie
      June 7, 2019
      1
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    • New music from San Holo & Broods - “Honest” released today

      Shawn Moodie
      January 31, 2020
      Alternative, Electronic, Listen, Main, Music, Watch and Listen
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    • INTERVIEW: Jack Jones on ‘All You Need Is Love’

      Shawn Moodie
      July 23, 2019

    • In Review: 2040

      The Speakeasy
      July 6, 2019

    • In Review: Top End Wedding

      The Speakeasy
      May 6, 2019
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    • In Review: Kan Touch This

      Johan Chang
      November 13, 2020
      Comedy
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    • In Review: Darkfield Radio – Double

      Liz Lauder
      August 30, 2020

    • 7 Live Comedy Venues In Auckland To Get Your Post Lockdown Laughs

      Oliver Smith
      June 18, 2020

    • IN REVIEW: Have You Ever Been With An Asian Womxn?

      Johan Chang
      March 1, 2020
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    • 10

      In Review: Leather Lungs: Yas Queen!

      Liz Lauder
      February 6, 2020
      Culture, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music, Theatre
    Recent

    • NEW MUSIC: PASSENGER

      Chontalle Musson
      January 9, 2021

    • NEW MUSIC: Kendall Elise

      Chontalle Musson
      December 25, 2020

    • ANNOUNCEMENT: Outerfields 2021 + BENEE

      Chontalle Musson
      December 24, 2020
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    Featured
    • 10

      In Review: Leather Lungs: Yas Queen!

      Liz Lauder
      February 6, 2020
      Culture, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music, Theatre
    Recent

    • SIX60 ‘When The Lights Go Out’ Premiere

      Chontalle Musson
      November 28, 2020

    • 7 Live Comedy Venues In Auckland To Get Your Post Lockdown Laughs

      Oliver Smith
      June 18, 2020

    • In Review: Pop Up Globe Farewell Summer Season – Much Ado About Nothing

      Liz Lauder
      December 24, 2019
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  • NZ International Comedy Festival
    Featured

    • NZICF: Fred Awards Finalists Announced

      Shawn Moodie
      May 25, 2019
      Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
    Recent

    • NZICF In Review: Better Than I Was The Last Time – David Correos

      Grace Hood-Edwards
      May 26, 2019

    • NZICF In Review: Heroic – Donna Brookbanks

      Grace Hood-Edwards
      May 25, 2019

    • NZICF In Review: The Blair Witch Projector – James Mustapic

      Grace Hood-Edwards
      May 24, 2019

    • NZICF In Review: Kura Shoulda Woulda – Kura Forrester

      The Speakeasy
      May 24, 2019

    • And The Winners Are… Raw Comedy Quest 2019 Crowns 2 Winners

      Oliver Smith
      May 24, 2019

    • NZICF In Review: Traffic Jam – Darcy Murray & Wade Jackson

      The Speakeasy
      May 23, 2019
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  • ABOUT US

NZ International Comedy Festival

This April, the NZ International Comedy Festival hits a quarter century, and it looks as though we’ve never needed comedy more. Over the course of the Festival, we’ll be interviewing comedians, highlighting shows that you should attend, and of course offering our reviews.

NZICF: Fred Awards Finalists Announced

Shawn Moodie
May 25, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

NZICF In Review: Kura Shoulda Woulda – Kura Forrester

The Speakeasy
May 24, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

NZICF In Review: Dialogue Matters – Pax Assadi

The Speakeasy
May 23, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

NZICF In Review: God Damn Fancy Man – James Nokise

The Speakeasy
May 22, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
1

NZICF In Review: Tom Foolery – Tom Sainsbury

The Speakeasy
May 22, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Home
NZ International Comedy Festival

NZICF In Review: Better Than I Was The Last Time – David Correos

Grace Hood-Edwards
May 26, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
David Correos mentioned the phrase “a wild ride” partway through his set Better Than I Was The Last Time and perhaps nothing could be more apt a descriptor for his show. I realised partway through the show as ...

NZICF: Fred Awards Finalists Announced

Shawn Moodie
May 25, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
This year’s Fred Award judges have chosen three finalists to compete at Electric Kiwi Last Laughs on Sunday for The FRED, which is awarded to the Best New Zealand Show in the 2019 NZ Internatio...

NZICF In Review: Heroic – Donna Brookbanks

Grace Hood-Edwards
May 25, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
2019 Billy T nominee Donna Brookbanks’ Heroic begins by getting the audience amped with appropriately inspirational tracks, such as the Foo Fighters’ ‘My Hero’ and Bonnie Tyler’s ‘I Need a Hero’. Brookbanks’ e...

NZICF In Review: The Blair Witch Projector – James Mustapic

Grace Hood-Edwards
May 24, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
James Mustapic at the beginning of his show at the Q Theatre Vault promises a sensible hour of stand up. No gimmicks. That is until a ghost inside his projector turns up to roast Mustapic and drag him through ...

NZICF In Review: Kura Shoulda Woulda – Kura Forrester

The Speakeasy
May 24, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Chelsea Pickens The first thing I noticed about Kura’s show was that it was completely full, obviously a popular pick among comedy lovers. The second thing I noticed was a scrawled-on mock beauty ...

And The Winners Are… Raw Comedy Quest 2019 Crowns 2 Winners

Oliver Smith
May 24, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
I made my way to the Rangitira at Q Theatre on Thursday night to witness the final of Raw Comedy Quest, New Zealand’s premier competition, and a launching point for the future of New Zealand Comedy. The nig...

NZICF In Review: Traffic Jam – Darcy Murray & Wade Jackson

The Speakeasy
May 23, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Wal Reid It was reportedly touted that William Shakespeare said the eyes are the “window to the soul.” If this is the case, then actors Darcy Murray and Wade Jackson are living proof that this can...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Alan McElroy Is S#it @ Twitter – Alan McElroy

Oliver Smith
May 23, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
On Wednesday night, I once again found myself at The Classic Studio, to witness the latest hour of Alan McElroy, fresh from the melbourne festival, with Alan McElroy Is S#it @ Twitter, a man's attempt to make ...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Rapture – Tom Deacon

Oliver Smith
May 23, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Last Night I made my way to The Classic Studio, to see Tom Deacon, in Rapture, his NZICF debut. The venue was buzzing, Deacon has been smashing line up shows leading up to his show, and found a room full of pe...

NZICF In Review: Dialogue Matters – Pax Assadi

The Speakeasy
May 23, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Jesse Knight Kiwi comedian Pax Assadi’s ‘Dialogue Matters’ was best summarised in his opening conversation with fellow comedian James Nokise, where Assadi assured Nokise that the show is about be...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Spoiler Alert – Ed Byrne

Oliver Smith
May 22, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
I sat in the Rangitira at Q on Tuesday night, eagerly awaiting Ed Byrne's latest hour of stand up comedy, Spoiler Alert, an anticipation that was shared by a packed out house of buzzing audience members. Ed...

NZICF In Review: God Damn Fancy Man – James Nokise

The Speakeasy
May 22, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
1
Review by Jaimee Beck James Nokise speaks the truth, the hilarious uncomfortable truth, and nothing but the truth. He speaks it in the words of a Samoan Minister, A ginger bro from Hamilton, and a kid ga...

NZICF In Review: Tom Foolery – Tom Sainsbury

The Speakeasy
May 22, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Otis Letwin I am a big fan of Tom Sainsbury’s Snapchat videos. Even before I moved to New Zealand, even before I knew who Paula Bennett was, I knew about Sainsbury’s impersonation of her. So...

NZICF In Review: Need(y) – Jimmy McGhie

The Speakeasy
May 22, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Grace Chua Jimmy McGhie returns to New Zealand once again from the UK to give Kiwis a comedy show on what he terms the "Quality of Life". He shares his observations from living in London, contras...

NZICF In Review: MEME LORD – Alice Canton

Grace Hood-Edwards
May 18, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
A projector, a table and an unknown number of phones. The basic set dressing for Alice Canton’s MEME LORD at the Basement’s Studio. A show that is posited as being “a deep dive into the world of meme” isn’...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: I Was Part Of The Problem Before We Were Talking About It – Guy Montgomery

Oliver Smith
May 18, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
I sat in a packed out Rangatira at Q on Thursday night to witness I Was Part of the Problem Before We Were Talking about It, the latest hour from Guy Montgomery, who has well and truly established himself as a...

NZICF In Review: Space Couch – Tim Batt & Disasteradio

Nina Reed
May 17, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
1
Tim Batt does a good thing. But, off the batt, I wasn’t convinced. You walk into a dark room with a very bright couch, a high school desk, a television, an obnoxious sound set-up, and bright neon-ish lighting....

NZICF In Review: The Mournmoor Murders – Alice May Connolly & Maria Williams

Nina Reed
May 17, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
1
These gals just f$%KING rocked! R Someone in Mournmoor has been murdered. Did someone say “death”? “Murder?” That’s right, a murder! A good place to start any good comedy show, right? You wouldn’t think so,...

NZICF In Review: Boy Mestizo – James Roque

Liz Lauder
May 16, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
1
James Roque is one of those comedians that really stick with you. I have fond memories of watching James do stand-up at The Classic last year, so I eagerly jumped at the chance to review the funniest comedian ...

NZICF In Review: Instant Broadway – Covert Theatre

Johan Chang
May 16, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, Music, NZ International Comedy Festival
First of all – let me say – Aotea Center’s Herald Theatre is really hard to find. If it wasn’t for the help of two excellent centre staff, it would’ve taken my date and I far longer to make it there. However, ...

NZICF In Review: The Internaton-AL – Alistair Barrie

The Speakeasy
May 16, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Laura Roberts After reading some raving reviews of Alistair Barrie’s shows from last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, we arrived at The Classic with high expectations. This was our first time in The Clas...
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TOP REVIEWS

  • Joker – a masterpiece of time and place.

    Shawn Moodie
    October 2, 2019
    1
    10

  • In Review: Leather Lungs: Yas Queen!

    Liz Lauder
    February 6, 2020
    2
    10

  • In Review: Horace and Pete

    Nigel Mckenzie-Ryan
    May 12, 2016
    3
    10

  • In Review: CitizenFour

    Shawn Moodie
    March 5, 2016
    4
    9.8

  • NZICF In Review: Your Wrong – Phil Nichol

    Shawn Moodie
    May 16, 2019
    5
    10

LATEST POSTS

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The Speakeasy is a culture and entertainment site for the digital generation.

We're a community of creators and curators on a mission to deliver the stories you care about in an authentic, and distinctive voice.

We cover everyone and everything from the trendsetters to the fringe favourites. From arthouse flicks to box-office hits.

No matter the platform (video, audio, photo, written), you can expect us to deliver stories like no other, because at The Speakeasy we're all about - Entertainment, done differently.

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Latest Posts

  • NEW MUSIC: PASSENGER

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  • NEW MUSIC: Kendall Elise

    Chontalle Musson
    December 25, 2020

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: Outerfields 2021 + BENEE

    Chontalle Musson
    December 24, 2020

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: Shapeshifter + Netsky

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    December 18, 2020

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