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

NZICF In Review: Tom Foolery – Tom Sainsbury

The Speakeasy

May 22, 2019

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

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NZ International Comedy Festival

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Glamourpuss – Ruby Esther

Matt Coombe

May 21, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

On a crisp Thursday night I went to the Basement studio, to see the opening night of Glamourpuss, an insight into a living with mental illness. The latest show from the much talked about 'up and comer' Ruby Es...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: The Great Comedy Debate

Matt Coombe

May 20, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

It was a crisp Tuesday evening when I walked up the stairs into the Q Theatre Rangatira to witness The Great Comedy Debate. It has to be mentioned this show was funny for both myself and my grandma and she ...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: End Of Daze – Lolsy Byrne

Oliver Smith

May 19, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

Late in the evening I made my way up top The Classic Studio to watch End Of Daze, a wonderfully heartfelt and vulnerable hour of stand up comedy performed by Lolsy Byrne. She began the show by describing t...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Daddy-Short-Legs – Eli Matthewson

Oliver Smith

May 19, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

I found myself in the Q Theatre Loft on Tuesday night, on the final week of the 2021 New Zealand International Comedy Festival. I had come to see festival staple Eli Matthewson's newest hour of comedy 'Daddy-S...

New Zealand International Festival In Review: The Porne Identity – Audrey Porne

Matt Coombe

May 14, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

It was a crisp Thursday night when I walked up the steep stairs of the classic studio, to see some of the best Christchurch comedy scene has to offer in The Porne Identity, starring Audrey Porne, and her fanta...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: If This Is It – Laura Davis

Oliver Smith

May 14, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

Further into the evening I made my to The Classic Studio to see Australian comic Laura Davis, in her show If This Is It, a wonderful meta analysis of the purpose of comedy and art during a global pandemic. ...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Brunch – Ray Shipley & Emma Cusdin

Oliver Smith

May 13, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

Just after tea time on a Wednesday evening, I sauntered up the steps to the Basement Studio, to allow Ray Shipley and Emma Cusdin to whisk me back to Brunch. In Brunch, Shipley and Cusdin try and piece toge...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Happy Cabbage – Bec Sandys

Oliver Smith

May 12, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

Here we are at second week of comedy fest, fully satiated with variety of comedy I caught week 1, I ventured to my first outing of week 2, Bec Sandys' latest show, Happy Cabbage. Happy Cabbage is a series ...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: This Will Be Tested – Chester Jerrat & Sarah Hughes

Oliver Smith

May 10, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

It was late on Friday when I entered the Loft at Q Theatre to watch This Will Be Tested, a double bill featuring two of Auckland's freshest up and comers, Chester Jerrat (Finalist of TVNZ's New Blood) and Sar...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Heartless Joke Machine – Rhys Mathewson

Oliver Smith

May 10, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

On Friday Night I found myself in a packed out Classic, full of lively punters to watch Rhys Mathewson, the Heartless Joke Machine. The liveliness of the crowd would set to the tone for the night, and Mathewso...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Circus Of Shame – Neil Thornton

Oliver Smith

May 7, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

It was late on Thursday when I walked up to The Classic Studio, to see veteran comic Neil Thornton, and his Circus of Shame, a thought provoking examination of the concept of shame, both his own, and in cultur...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: In The Moonlight – Paul Williams

Oliver Smith

May 7, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

On Thursday evening in went to Basement Theatre to see Into The Moonlight, the latest hour of comedy from Paul Williams. I knew him better for his charmingly awkward performances as the assistant on Taskmaster...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Twins – Liv McKenzie & Ed Amon

Oliver Smith

May 6, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

On Thursday I made my way to Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen, to see Twins, featuring Liv McKenzie and Ed Amon. These are comics coming off the back of a fantastic Comedy Fest 2019, McKenzie claiming best new comer, a...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: General Admission – Sera Devcich

Oliver Smith

May 4, 2021

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

It's that time of year again folks, after a year off (because of a certain global pandemic...) the New Zealand International Comedy Festival is back! Thankfully so, as I think we all need a laugh (due to said....

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...